Fundraisers
May 6
· Gateway Bank will be selling T-shirts May 6 to benefit Ringgold High School and Ringgold Middle School as well as rebuilding efforts.
· The New Ole Pickin Barn is sponsoring a community wide benefit for victims of the storm Friday, May 6 at 6 p.m. The barn is located at Mack Smith Road on the same parking lot at Unity Baptist Church. There will be a $5 donation charge at the door for an evening of music and dancing. Local celebrities are all being invited to bring their instruments.
May 7
· The Walker County Chamber of Commerce is teaming up Saturday, May 7, with the Northwest Georgia Council of Realtors and the Village Sports Bar & Grill in Rock Spring and the local band Bounty Hunter and Friends to host a Neighbor to Neighbor Benefit that will kick off with live music at 5 p.m. There will be a $10 donation to relief efforts cover charge, and the event will be collecting and accepting non-perishable food items.
· Triple 7 Studio and Honest Pint in Chattanooga are hosting a benefit with live music and a silent auction May 7 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Honest Pint, located at 35 Patten Parkway in Chattanooga. Two of the bands playing are residents of Ringgold. There will be a door charge, silent auction, and concession sales, all of which will benefit Ringgold tornado victims.
· Tulsa, Okla.-based Operation Mission of Compassion will roll through Catoosa County Saturday, May 7. Beginning at 8 p.m., a candlelight vigil will be held at Davis Cattle Co. on Ooltewah-Ringgold Road in Ringgold. For more information about Mission of Compassion, visit www.missionofcompassion.net.
· The Stanford Place community yard sale will be held Saturday, May 7 beginning at 8 a.m. The subdivision is in Flinstone off Old Chattanooga Valley Road. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit local displaced families.
· Community Baptist Church in Rock Spring is giving away clothing, blankets, shoes, food, water and more May 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided as well. All volunteers are welcome.
· Mountain Creek Harley Davidson will host a fundraiser May 7 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be live music, jump inflatables, face painting, dunk booth, giveaways, raffle and food. Proceeds to benefit American Red Cross.
May 8
· Fellowship for Christian Athletes group is sponsoring a Prayer Walk beginning at 7:30 p.m. for Catoosa County students who are returning to school the next day. The walk will start at Heritage High School and continue to Heritage Middle School.
· Tulsa, Okla.-based Operation Mission of Compassion will hold a Sunday morning church service in the arean at Davis Cattle Co. For more information about Mission of Compassion, visit www.missionofcompassion.net.
· Ruby Falls is accepting donations for The American Red Cross of Greater Chattanooga Area to aid storm victims Sunday, May 8. Guests can bring non-perishable food items to receive $5 off a regular adult admission (valid Sunday only), and $3 off a regular child admission. Ruby Falls Tour Guides are also donating their tips for the day.
May 10
· The Georgia Rehabilitation Association Highlands Chapter is hosting a blood drive at the Department of Labor Tuesday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments are encouraged, but the Blood Assurance bus can take walk-ins if time is available. This blood drive is being held in an effort to assist those injured in the recent tornadoes and storms in our immediate area. All blood types are needed. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 706- 638-5536.
May 14
· Vaughn's Hotrods in Ringgold off of Holcomb Road is hosting a benefit yard sale May 14 and May 15, starting at 7 a.m. All the proceeds go to help Ringgold. Donations will be taken up that day as well. For more information, call 423-802-6927 or email vaughnshotrods@hotmail.com.
Donations & volunteers
· Anyone who is interested in cleaning up Anderson Cemetery in Ringgold is encouraged to meet at Waffle House off exit 345 (Tunnel Hill-Ringgold exit) for breakfast at 8 a.m. Saturday morning, May 7. The group will proceed to the cemetery at 9 a.m. Bring equipment and safety gear needed for removing trees.
· Catoosa Citizens for Animal Care and the Catoosa County Tea Party are accepting pet supply donations at the Ringgold Telephone Company for those affected by the recent storms Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays at Ringgold Electric Supply, located at 2435 Holcomb Road in Ringgold. Monetary donations can be made to Catoosa Citizens for Animal Care, P.O. Box 838 Ringgold, GA, 30736. Make checks payable to CCAC Tornado Relief Fund.
· If you are in need of a foster home or would like to foster some of our displaced pets call 706-937-2287 or e-mail Catoosa County Animal Care at catoosaanimal@gmail.com. If you have lost a pet, you can post it this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Animals-Lost-and-Found-from-TN-GA-Tornadoes/199593240078392. You can also email them to animalslosttnga@yahoo.com.
· The Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security, the Georgia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and Americorps Georgia are seeking volunteers. Georgia Volunteer Saturday will be held Saturday, May 7. People should come prepared to remove debris, rake yards, chainsaw trees, and assist with general clean up efforts. Be sure to wear work clothes and sturdy gloves and bring tools such as chainsaws, hammers, hats and goggles, in addition to plenty of sunscreen, food and water. Volunteers may check in at 8 a.m. for assignments at the Dade County Sheriff’s Office, 5 Case Ave., Trenton, Ga. 30752, or Catoosa County Methodist Church, 7484 Nashville St., Ringgold, Ga. 30736. For the Catoosa location, call 706-935-2109 or 706-935-2199 before coming.
· People wishing to continue to add their name to the list of volunteers for Catoosa County relief efforts may call a new number housed at the volunteer coordination office at the Ringgold United Methodist Church at 706-935-2109. Immediate needs at the Ringgold Telephone Company Distribution Center are: Sugar-free Foods, Soft Drinks, Canned Foods, Hammers and Nails.
· Rossville softball and baseball teams are collecting canned goods, health and beauty aids, diapers, bottles and more for those who were hit by the storm. Boxes will be at the entrance to the park. For more information, contact Sheila Wheat at 423-596-5351.
· Noble Baptist Fellowship Church, located at 5994 Hwy 27 North, is collecting nonperishable food, bottled water and/or household items for tornado victims. Items can be dropped off at the church office during normal business hours or brought to church services on Sunday. For more information, call the church at 706-764-2917.
· Volunteers are needed at Ringgold United Methodist Church May 9-12 for meal shifts – breakfast, 7:45 a.m. to 10 a.m.; lunch, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; supper, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Contact the church for more information.
· The Walker County Chamber of Commerce has passed disaster relief efforts to Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church or Oakwood Baptist Church. While donations are still being accepted at the Walker County Civic Center, donations to the churches are encouraged.
· Chattanooga Times-Free Press has established a Neediest Cases Fund: Southern Storms. It channels contributions to local Red Cross chapters for area tornado relief efforts. Your gift is tax deductible as permitted by law.
· Local contractors should register with FEMA at The Colonnade.
· Jesus is the Way Baptist Ministry has a tornado relief center set up at Bryman Plaza North in Dalton. They will be accepting donations of nonperishable food, hygiene products, water, clothing and any monetary donations. It will be delivered to Catooa County.
· Donations for disaster relief can be made at any Northwest Georgia Bank branch, including the main office and the Nashville St. branch in Ringgold, which are open for normal business hours.
· The Chattanooga Valley Recreation Association will be accepting donations at the ballfields this week to assist those in the Chattanooga Valley and Flinstone communities hit hard by last Wednesday's storms. Donations will be accepted on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., and on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Items needed include bottled water and drinks, toiletries, duct tape, sunblock, insect repellent, charcoal, and blankets. Monetary donations will also be accepted.
· To list what you need and to share what you have available, visit www.helpringgold.com.
· Ringgold United Methodist Church, which is serving as a recovery site, needs volunteers for: team 1 – on site distribution of food and water; team 2 – care/assessment team; team 3 – manual labor/clean up team; and team 4 – church security team.
· Donations can be taken to the Bank of LaFayette.
· Ringgold High and Middle schools have established an athletic department fund to help rebuild their stadiums, replace equipment and more. Those who would like to help Ringgold athletics can send monetary donations to the RHS and RMS Athletic Fund, c/o Northwest Georgia Bank, P.O. Box 789 Ringgold, Ga. 30736.
· Blood Assurance needs blood donations to replenish supplies. Blood Assurance has a location in Fort Oglethorpe.
· According to the Walker County Commissioner's office, individuals who would like to contribute to the relief effort can provide cash donations to the Walker County Commissioner’s Office in LaFayette.
· Dalton State College is taking donations for Ringgold tornado victims. Drop off boxes are placed in buildings around campus. Most needed items are are bottled water, food (including baby food), paper towels, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and personal care items. A Red Cross representative will be by campus on May 6 to pick items up.
· The Chattooga County library is taking donations to be transported to Dade, Catoosa, DeKalb (Ala.) and other affected areas. Open Friday until 5 and will be open Saturday also. All types of sundries and supplies needed, including food, bottled water, baby supplies, and gloves. No clothing donations will be accepted at this point. Donations will be accepted until May 6. For more information, call Diane Young at 706-978-0139, Vicky VanPelt at 706-857-7917 or the library at 706-857-2553.
· The Chattanooga Area Red Cross is taking volunteers and monetary donations. Donations can be sent to Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross Chapter, 801 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga TN 37403
· Rep. Tom Graves’ District Offices, located in Gainesville and Dalton, are accepting the following donations from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday: clean folded tarps, C and D batteries , cases of bottled water, infant formula, infant and toddler diapers, boxes of spaghetti and jars of purchased red sauce and granola or cereal bars.
· To provide hair, makeup and other services related to prom, contact TheGoodStuff@CoCoMcCain.com or contact the Stylebar’s Rose Riley at 423-756-2718.
For victims
· The Salvation Army comfort center will be open today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Salvation Army Center on N. Moore Road. Hot meals and showers will be available.
· The American Red Cross shelter at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School, 1850 Battlefield Pkwy in Fort Oglethorpe, moved to a new Catoosa County location Friday, May 6, to give the school system a chance to ready the building for classes. The new Red Cross shelter location is at Poplar Springs Baptist Church, 422 Poplar Springs Road in Ringgold.
· The Salvation Army Mobile Kitchen will be stationed at Ingles May 6 for supper.
· As the need for disaster assistance shifts more toward long-term recovery efforts, the Salvation Army has begun to shift away from mass feeding and into long-term social casework. In addition to hot meals, they will provide nonperishable food boxes, toiletries, baby needs, support for lost medication, gasoline, and other necessities on a case by case basis depending upon the need. A Joint Disaster Recovery Center is located at The Shirley Smith Learning Center, 36 Muscogee Trail in Ringgold, and at Walker County Agriculture Center, 10058 N. Highway 27 in Rock Spring.
· If you are in need of a foster home or would like to foster some of our displaced pets call 706-937-2287 or e-mail Catoosa County Animal Care at catoosaanimal@gmail.com. If you have lost a pet, you can post it this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Animals-Lost-and-Found-from-TN-GA-Tornadoes/199593240078392. You can also email them to animalslosttnga@yahoo.com.
· The Catoosa County Help Line moves to the Catoosa County Administration building and will serve callers Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at either 706-965-7138 or 706-965-7139
· Gateway Bank will serve lunches from noon to 5 p.m. May 6 with the help of Good Dogs Restaurant of Chattanooga and Ester Suggs of AllState Insurance.
· FEMA has set up a central office at the Walker County Ag Center in Rock Spring and at the Shirley Smith Learning Center.
· Catoosa Citizens for Animal Care and K9 Tub Time are teaming up to help tornado victim pet owners. They will be at K9 Tub Time on Nashville Street May 6-8 accepting donations and dispersing donated food and supplies. They will also help lost and found pets find their owners. For more information, call K9 Tub Time at 706-935-3480 or CCAC at 706-937-2287.
· Customers who lost a driver’s license or identification card due to the April 27 storms may be eligible to obtain a free replacement from the Department of Driver Services (DDS). In order to obtain a free replacement, eligible customers must visit a DDS customer service center and present documentation of their identities. For more information, visit www.dds.ga.gov.
· The Georgia Department of Labor Rapid Response Team will open an office at the Catoosa County Learning Center, located at 36 Muscogee Trail in Ringgold, on May 4 at 9 a.m. Please contact the Help Line at either 706-965-7138 or 706-965-7139 with more questions or for more information.
· Camp Discovery in Ringgold is providing food — breakfast, lunch and two snacks every day — and keeping kids active so parents can clean up or volunteer. It can accommodate up to 125 kids an is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day this week. Transportation is available as well. For more information, call 706-937-5323.
· Disaster survivors can apply for federal assistance directly through web-enabled mobile phone devices or smartphones at m.fema.gov. They can also call 800-621-FEMA or TTY 800-462-7585, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Survivors also can register online anytime at www.disasterassistance.gov.
· Anyone who needs information on Red Cross tornado relief services in Georgia is urged to call the Red Cross-Georgia Tornado Call Center, a toll-free number, at 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and follow the prompts for disaster relief in Georgia. The call center, open daily from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., is a resource for families with questions about what types of services the Red Cross is providing to disaster survivors and how to access them in local communities.
· Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society, a fraternal benefit organization with more than 28,000 members living in north Georgia, reminds members who sustained significant storm damage to their primary residence that they may qualify for a natural disaster benefit. Disaster assistance is one benefit of membership in Woodmen of the World that is intended to help members in time of need. Members should contact their local Woodmen of the World Representative or State Service Center for more information.
· Grace Church of Catoosa County, at 7623 Alabama Highway in Ringgold, welcomes victims to pick up supplies Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (May 4-6). The church will also be grilling hot dogs and hamburgers Saturday, May 7, at the Gingerbread House in Ringgold from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the victims needing a hot meal. Contact Angie Clay with any questions at 423-838-1155.
· You may be eligible for disaster unemployment benefits. The Northwest Georgia Department of Labor office is located at 96 Stuart Road in Fort Oglethorpe. Their phone number is 706-861-1990 or call 1-877-709-8185. If your claim is denied, call Georgia Legal Services Program for legal help at 800-498-9469. Farmworkers in any county can call Georgia Legal Services Program’s Migrant Project in Atlanta at 800-537-7496.
· To list what you need and to share what you have available, visit www.helpringgold.com.
· If you suffered any damages or losses on farmland and to livestock, contact the LaFayette Farm Service Agency office at 706-638-1558, extension 2.
· The U. S. Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Assistance has opened offices at the Shirley Smith Learning Center, located on the Catoosa Benton Place Campus. They will offer assistance to homeowners as well as business owners. The hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. You may come to the Learning Center to apply or you can go disasterloan.sba.gov/ela and download the application. You may also call 1-800-659-2955.
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