How Kansans can help Oklahoma tornado victims | The Wichita Eagle

State and local relief efforts remain under way to help tornado victims in Moore, Okla.

Kansans should contact disaster-relief organizations of their choice, such as the American Red Cross ( www.redcross.org), Salvation Army ( www.salvationarmyusa.org) or United Way ( www.unitedway.org), or local organizations to find out how they can help.

Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, adjutant general and director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, has urged people who want to volunteer their time and services to go through official channels rather than act on their own.

A number of state and local businesses and organizations are offering ways to help. Most suggest donating money, but some are asking for goods that they plan to deliver to Oklahoma.

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The Salvation Army

has said money is the most crucial need in Moore. It encouraged donors to give online at

www.salvationarmyusa.org

, or by calling 800-SAL-ARMY (800-725-2769).

People also may text the word “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10 donation through their mobile phone. Respond with the word “Yes” to confirm a gift.

Checks should be designated to “Oklahoma Tornado Relief” and be mailed to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 12600, Oklahoma City, OK 73157.

A team of ministers and volunteers from the Salvation Army Kansas and Western Missouri Division went to Moore to provide spiritual and emotional care to survivors, first responders and the community.

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The American Red Cross-Midway Kansas Chapter

also urged people to send money rather than goods.

Donations may be made by calling 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767), or by visiting redcross.org.

People also may text “redcross” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Donations also may be sent or delivered to the Red Cross office in Wichita, 1900 E. Douglas, 67214.

Checks may be designated for “Oklahoma Spring Storms 2013” or “Disaster Relief.”

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The United Way of the Plains

directed people who want to make financial contributions to the United Way of Central Oklahoma Disaster Relief Fund. That fund may be reached through the website

unitedwayokc.org

or by calling 405-235-3534. Funds also may be sent to the Wichita office at 245 N. Water, Wichita, 67202. Checks with the memo “Oklahoma Disaster Relief Fund” will be forwarded to the Oklahoma fund.

The organization said that no administrative fees will be charged, and 100 percent of each gift will go to disaster recovery assistance.

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GracePoint Church

said it will accept monetary donations through the week. Donations are being accepted at

www.gracepointchurch.tv

by clicking on the Love Moore banner. Checks may be made payable to “Kansas Tornado Relief” (memo: “Moore tornado”).

A delegation of church leaders and volunteers planned to take a truckload of supplies donated at the church to Oklahoma, where they will work with local churches to help survivors.

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Star Lumber and DalTile & Stone

, which have facilities in Oklahoma City that weren’t damaged, have combined to collect clothing, blankets, food and water. They will deliver the donations to a Red Cross location in the Moore area.

Donations may be dropped off at the DalTile Warehouse, 2012 S. Edwards; Star Lumber West, 325 S. West St.; or Star Lumber East, 2621 N. Greenwich Road.

• Rusty Eck Ford, 7310 E. Kellogg, is asking for donations such as bottled water, wipes, baby items, hygiene products, flashlights and batteries. Donations will be accepted during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and will be delivered to Moore.

• One Spark, 725 E. 10th St., is accepting bottled water, hygiene products and other items. It plans to deliver donated items, including clothing, to Moore on Saturday.

• Kansas Truck Driving School, 2938 S. Minneapolis, is accepting items such as bottled water and cleaning and hygiene products all week for delivery to Moore. Donations may be made at the school from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

• Keller Williams Signature Partners, at the Waterfront Offices at 13th Street and Webb Road, is accepting donations of items such as water, hygiene supplies, non-perishable food, baby items, first-aid kits, trash bags and work gloves. Donated items will be delivered late Thursday or Friday to the Salvation Army in Norman, Okla.

Drop-off hours at Keller Williams are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. to noon Friday. Drop-offs may be made on the west side at the Flying Moose, 9223 W. Kellogg.

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CrossFit Wichita

, 535 S. St. Francis, will collect items until Saturday to take to Moore. They are asking for items such as water, diapers and cleanup items.

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Wichita Softball

will hold a softball tournament at West Side Athletic Fields on Sunday. The entry fee is a donation of cash or goods such as clothing, food, water, shovels and other items to be delivered to Oklahoma. Contact Damien Sandoval, 316-573-3155, or Matt Howard, 316-491-3265, for information about the tournament.

• Outreach Inc. will host a food-packaging event Saturday in El Dorado to pack macaroni and cheese dinners for delivery to Moore through the Salvation Army of Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at Trinity United Methodist Church, 430 Eunice St., El Dorado.

To donate, text “Outreach” to 641-243-4341 or visit www.outreachprogram.org. For more information or to volunteer for the event, e-mail isaac@outreachprogram.org, or call or text Isaac McNary, 316-461-0512.

• Dillons customers may donate at check-out stands at all Dillons stores in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska through June 8.

Dillons, which is partnering with the Red Cross and KAKE News, is offering three ways to make a donation: Customers may round up their grocery bill to the nearest dollar; make a $5 or $10 donation, which will be added to the grocery order; or donate any change or bills at check-out coin boxes.

The Kroger Family of Stores will match contributions up to $50,000.

• Gorges Motor Co., 2660 S. Oliver, will host a citywide prayer vigil and service at 4 p.m. Saturday with Andover Baptist Church and Crossroads Christian Church.

Gorges also has organized a donation drive with other businesses and will take donated items to Moore. Drop-off sites include KCTU-TV, 2100 E. Douglas; Planet Fitness locations at Central and Woodlawn, 21st and Amidon, and 23rd North and Maize Road; Tipsy Cakes, 215 S. Shefford Court; Andover Baptist Church, 1043 S. Andover Road, Andover; and Creative Paradise, 415 Industrial Park, Goddard.

Gorges is asking for cleanup supplies such as trash bags, trash containers and shovels. Gorges offers free pickup service for those with items to donate who can’t get to the drop-off sites. Call 316-695-2201 or e-mail dhenderson@gorges.com.

• Dopps Chiropractic Clinics are accepting donations at all 14 locations through June 13. The most needed items include trash bags, gloves, shovels, bleach, plastic trash cans, food, water and baby items. Visit doppsonline.com to find the drop-off locations and lists of other items to donate.

• Oxford House Senior Living at Broadmoor, 2119 N Broadmoor, is teaming up with the Salvation Army to deliver donations to Moore. Anyone can drop off donations at the Oxford House Clubhouse during regular business hours. Donations will be delivered to the Salvation Army’s temporary disaster distribution warehouse in Moore at the end of next week.

Hygiene products, baby items, bottled water are requested.

• Towne East Square and Towne West Square will be accepting donations from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday. At Towne East, items may be dropped off in the parking lot near the Rock Rd entrance. At Towne West, items may be dropped off near the Town West Drive entrance.

Items requested include water, baby items, individually wrapped snacks and hygiene products.

Contributing: Matt Riedl, Kelsey Ryan and Brent Wistrom of The Eagle