CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicagoans are pitching in to help people in Kentucky try to put back together pieces of their lives following last week’s deadly tornadoes.
Calling the damage "heartbreaking," community organizer Eddie Guillen is helping collect supplies for people devastated by the tornadoes.
"So we are trying to get pallets of water, we are trying to get non-perishable items, blankets, coats, clothes, and anything that could help out the families in need," Guillen said.
You can bring donations to E-C Cleaners in the West Eldson neighborhood at 53rd and Pulaski.
Additionally, World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization focused on addressing poverty and injustice, is also collecting items at its South Austin warehouse, such as food, PPE, heaters, blankets, diapers, and toys, to send to Kentucky via a semi truck.
“It’s holiday time, and there are children who are affected who can’t do anything, so sometimes just being able to give them a toy, something to hold onto to comfort them at this time, is definitely an added bonus,” said Perrise Thomas, a partner coordinator at World Vision.
Headquartered in Washington state, World Vision also operates warehouses in six other states. On Monday, warehouses in Dallas, Texas, and Sewickley, Pennsylvania, plan to make similar relief shipments to Kentucky.
“This is why we do the work that we do,” Thomas said. “It’s unfortunate, and it’s sad to look and see those things, but where it warms our hearts sometimes is just to know that we’re able to provide some type of relief, some type of comfort.”
Donate here to support World Vision’s tornado relief efforts.
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Meanwhile, the Illinois Red Cross has already sent volunteers to damaged areas. They’re collecting blood and cash donations for long-term relief efforts that are expected. The charity’s Holly Baker said if you’re not in a position to give money, you could always donate blood.
"We've already provided over 150 blood products to the Kentucky area, because of all of these disasters happening in that region, so if people want to help us, they can roll up a sleeve and give blood," Baker said.
Between Friday night and early Saturday morning, the massive tornado caused 36 confirmed deaths, including at least six people who were killed at an Amazon warehouse in downstate Edwardsville that suffered a direct hit and collapsed.
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Kentucky, though, has borne the brunt of the catastrophic event, which could rival the country’s longest tornado on record. At least 22 deaths have been confirmed across the state, though Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has warned the toll could top 100.