St. Louis Storm Recovery Efforts

On Friday, May 16, a severe storm impacted lives across St. Louis. More than 5,000 homes in the region were affected, along with parts of our campus. We are holding everyone impacted in our hearts and want to express our deep care and concern, especially for members of our university and local community who may be facing loss or disruption.

In the wake of this storm, many of us are asking how we can help. The City of St. Louis is maintaining a recovery resource site with a variety of resources and opportunities to support community-wide efforts.

Volunteer Opportunities for WashU

• LovetheLOU Tornado Relief Volunteer Sign-Up
• Mission St. Louis: Volunteer for Storm Relief Efforts
• United Way of Greater St. Louis Emergency Volunteer Center
• United Way of Greater St. Louis Disaster Assistance Center (DAC)
• WeBuild: Tornado Tech Triage from TechSTL: Organizing companies and volunteers to address urgent community needs.

Service Saturdays
The “In St. Louis, For St. Louis” Initiative team will host several volunteer events on select Saturdays throughout June. These gatherings will provide meaningful ways for the WashU community to contribute to recovery efforts outside work hours. If you’re interested, please fill out this brief form to be notified about upcoming opportunities. 

WashU Volunteer Tracking
Tracking volunteer hours and activities is essential for understanding the true scope of our tornado relief and recovery efforts. The “In St. Louis, For St. Louis” Initiative team has created a group volunteer log where managers and volunteer leads can record the numbers from their shifts. You can access the form here.

WashU Guidance for Volunteering
WashU Human Resources has issued guidance for managers who have employees interested in volunteering as individuals or as a team. Please visit the HR website for more information about coordinating volunteer opportunities.

In-Kind Donations from WashU Community

The WashU Police Department is partnering with the Urban League of Greater St. Louis to collect in-kind donations from our WashU community to deliver to the Urban League. The following items can be dropped off at the station at 6615 Shepley Dr. The station is open 24/7:

General Supplies

• Tarps
• Flashlights
• Work gloves
• Batteries
• Duct tape
• Portable charging stations

Food and Beverage

• Bottled Water
• Gatorade
• Peanut Butter
• Canned Chicken/Tuna
• Canned Soups (pop-top)
• Oatmeal
• Crackers
• Trail Mix
• Packaged Snacks

Infant & Hygiene Supplies

• Infant Formula
• Diapers/Wipes
• Toothbrushes
• Soap
• Shampoo

*At this time, these are the only items we are collecting through this effort.

Resources

WashU Human Resources is maintaining a site with resources for those affected by the storm. Please visit the site for more information including community support being offered by several local agencies and national agencies with local chapters.

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