NOTE: You can check out updates on how this donation drive is progressing : Update #1, Update #2 (includes spreadsheet of donations received ) & Update #3 (which includes an updated needs list).
As many of you know, my town Joplin, Missouri was devastated by a tornado early Sunday evening on May 22nd. I’ve had an outpouring of emails from many generous, caring people asking how they can help. Here’s a list of items that are currently needed:
- Non-Perishable Food
- First-Aid Supplies
- Trash-Bags
- Over-the-counter Medications (especially pain relievers)
- Baby Supplies such as Diapers, Wipes, Baby Food, etc.
- Dog Food
- Cat Food
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrushes
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Soap
- Body Wash
- Laundry Detergent
- Cleaning Supplies
- Sunscreen
- Insect Repellent
- Paper Plates
- Work Gloves
- Note: Clothing is not needed at this time.
Connie’s Antiques in Joplin has moved to a new location that has a nice big storage in the back and Blake with Connie’s was more than happy to help & has agreed to have all items mailed there:
Mail to:
Disaster Relief/Frugal Fritzie
c/o Connie’s Antiques
5171 N. Main St.
Joplin, MO 64801
You have my personal guarantee that all items will be distributed to those that need them. I will be documenting this drive as it goes along to keep everyone up to date. Please feel free to include any personal notes, I’m sure they would be very much appreciated. You can also order online if you like from places like Amazon, Walmart & Target & send any items directly to the address above.
If you would rather make a monetary donation, you can do so through American Red Cross. I’ve also heard that Dillons stores are accepting donations for American Red Cross (obviously not ours in Joplin, it was devastated by the tornado).
Please feel free to share this post via Facebook, Twitter, email, blog, however you like.
Again, thank you so much for your support & for your prayers. They are both so very much appreciated. Bless you! ♥
I am so sorry that this has affected your town. I live in Springfield and see and hear much news about the devastation. My husband and I are taking a bunch of things over to our local Dillons that will be sent to Joplin and after our vacation we plan on volunteering to clean up as well. God bless you and yours.
I’ve looked and didn’t find it, but is anyone organizing a coupon drive for Joplin? I used a clipping service and sent a bunch to Tuscaloosa and hopefully they got a lot of items and I only spent $20. Years and years ago I seriously considering attending Missouri Southern State and fell in love with Joplin. Now I’m in Atlanta and have been hitting my stockpile pretty good because of my husbands furloughs, but would be willing to send coupons. Thank you.
Hi Dawn,
Thanks, that’s something I would definitely like to do in the near future. 🙂
Hi. I’m glad to hear you are safe after such a deadly twister. I am sure the tornado has changed life as you knew it even if you still have a livable home. Some of my relatives just survived the Minneapolis twister so I am eager to help Joplin. Can you tell me whether there are any coupons you need (coupons are not on the list)? If you can find people who want coupons, it would be a great way for people to help Joplin for the price of a stamp. But if you don’t have many stores open the coupons would probably would not do a lot to help. Please let me know.
Hi Lisa,
I have family in the St. Paul & Minneapolis area too, I just heard about the damage up there. So many tornadoes this year. 🙁 I would love to start a coupon drive in the near future, I think that would be a great way to continue to add to the needed supplies here in Joplin in the coming months, but I think I’d like to wait a little bit. Right now, it’s just too difficult to even get to any of the stores that are still up & running. Thanks for thinking along those lines though (Lisa & Dawn both), I’ll definitely post something in the near future.
I only wish I could jump in my car and come help like I did with Tuscaloosa. Here is my account of my experience there, maybe it will give some relief to those there….
http://madreminutes.blogspot.com/2011/05/why-do-we-live.html
That’s a really great post Barbara, thanks so much for sharing. And my mother also has a very big heart, so giving. It’s such an incredible blessing to have a great mom, isn’t it?
I didn’t realize that you lived in Joplin! I am so sorry! I am going to donate to the American Red Cross, every little bit helps. I love your website, it helps me so much! Many prayers for you and yours and everyone in Joplin, MO!
My kids and I are gathering things and have a trunk load to take to Crane today. They are gathering supplies there to take to Joplin….my thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy.
I’m here in Mt. Vernon. We’ve brought a few hundred homemade muffins to the shelters and dog/cat food. Do you need anything specifically? My daughter and I plan on coming out again on Friday and once a week for the entire summer. You help us all the time, we want to help you in any way possible girl!
Fritzie,
I am interested in adopting a family perhaps you could point me in the right direction. I’m sure FEMA will be relocating families to trailers soon. If you know anyone personally I’d feel good about that too. I’m in Springfield so it’s no problem for me to drive the supplies to them.
Another “Lisa” here who is interested in “adopting” a family : )
Thanks everyone! And to both Lisas, that’s a great idea to “adopting” families. I’ll be glad to let you know of families or if I hear of any organizations that are doing that.
I run a non-profit that specializes in collecting infant formula and other baby supplies. The intention of my group, Infant Formula Foundation, is to bless babies in third world countries. However, the need is so great there that I’m hoping to bring a load of supplies on Saturday. I keep hearing that unsolicited donations aren’t recommended… if I brought them by Connie’s Antiques on Saturday, could you pass them along to those in need?
Kristan, Yes, that would be great! Sending you an email right now.
Hello,
I have been a follower of yours for a long time and just in the past year have found out that you live right here in Joplin. I actually live in Carl Junction just down the road. My husband and I have been helping all week with chainsaws cutting trees and clearing debris. If you need any help, please email me. I can help you distribute items or what ever help you need for getting these much needed items to our Joplin area family.
Thanks and God Bless,
Angela Kennedy
I live in Springfield.
The damaged vehicles from the tornado are being brought in on big flat bed trucks. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH DESTRUCTION.
There are several drives of all kinds (food, water, clothing, personal care items, fundraising, etc) happening around Springfield. Last night, my children and I went through our stockpile of personal care items and emptied it. Today we filled the back of our car to take these things to the Ozark Food Harvest which is filling semis by the dozens and driving them to Joplin to aid in the relief efforts.
As we were driving to the Food Bank, my son saw a large “Convoy of Hope” semi merging onto the freeway. He shouted, “Mom, look … the Convoy of Hope truck is going to Joplin!”
When we pulled into the Food Harvest’s parking lot we saw a beautiful and very expensive car sitting in the parking lot with the back and side windows shattered. The car was covered with debri and mud both inside and out.
We took our items into the Food Harvest and dropped them off. As we were leaving, a lady called after us. She simply yelled, “BOYS!” to my sons, who stopped walking. She came outside and talked with them, and pointed to the damaged car and said, “Boys, that is my car. I live in Joplin. THANK YOU.”
Then she started crying and I hugged her, a complete stranger, who needed a hug, and then I started crying. I just held her as she told me about her family and her house. Her family is safe, and her house was not destroyed, though I am sure that it did sustain damage.
As we left, I was grateful that we went to the Food Harvest. I knew that the items would be loaded onto a semi and taken to Joplin, and I wanted my children to be apart of that. What I did not count on, was for my children to be at the right location at the right time to help a woman who needed to know that someone cared about her and her family and her community.
We were able to donate over $300.00 worth of personal care items because of couponing. A few of the items that we donated were 24 boxes of toothpaste, 12 bottles of bodywash, toothbrushes, 3 containers of dental floss, 12 razors, 4 bottles of shaving gell, 6 boxes of femine hygiene items, a large amount of toilet paper, bottles of shampoo and conditioner, bars of soap, medical supplies, deodrant, and I don’t remember what else.
Thanks so much for organizing this! We live in Joplin also, and actually have a booth at Connie’s (that we need to get moved to the new location)! Could you use any help with this project? Please e-mail me, and maybe we could help.
My sister and I have been working most of the week at the home of one of our church families. They live just about 2 blocks from where houses were completely destroyed! We were so grateful that they were all okay and there house isn’t totaled. My Dad is a roofing contracter, so he has been very busy looking at roofs, tarping holes, and helping wherever he can in between.
Thanks SO MUCH to everyone who has pitched in to help!! We are all so grateful!
My oldest daughter and her husband are members of the Halltown rescue they where on the scene the first night. They both where also part of the group from Halltown that went to Katrina. Early Monday morning ( around 2 am ) she was able to text me and told me she never thought she would live to see anything worse than Katrina. Mommy she wrote sadly I have and it is so heartbreaking because it is so close to home and many in the medical community from St. John’s are friends who have lost everything. They have had requests for makeup for the teenage girls and hair styling products for both girls and boys. I know many may think this is trivial things but for the kids anything that can make them feel that things may get back to normal some day helps and normal teenagers enjoy their makeup and hair products.
Hi Everyone, thank you so much for all the support to us here in Joplin, the outpouring of help & offers have been nothing short of astounding. Alice, that’s a good point about the makeup for the teenagers, I never thought of that. And Sarah, I’m sending you an email shortly. We are also just blocks away from the absolute destruction, it is still beyond comprehension for me. I’m glad your family & church family were spared.
Three boxes are on their way first thing in the morning! We are so sorry for the loss and devastation. I only wish we could do more! I posted this on the Frugal Day fb page and will be writing up a post tomorrow too!
I am in Springfield (but grew up in Joplin and Oronogo) and if you need someone to pick up donations in this area and bring them down, I would be glad to help. Just let me know. Or if you need any other help or know of any other needs let me know.