Sportswriter Patten Fuqua pauses to reflect on the unprecedented devastation to his city:

But let’s look at the other side of the coin for a moment. A large part of the reason that we are being ignored is because of who we are. Think about that for just a second. Did you hear about looting? Did you hear about crime sprees? No…you didn’t. You heard about people pulling their neighbors off of rooftops. You saw a group of people trying to move two horses to higher ground. No…we didn’t loot. Our biggest warning was, “Don’t play in the floodwater.” When you think about it…that speaks a lot for our city. A large portion of why we were being ignored was that we weren’t doing anything to draw attention to ourselves. We were handling it on our own.

Here is how you can help:

COME TO NASHVILLE

Despite recent flooding, Nashville businesses are still largely open for business.   Continue your travel plans to visit our city or plan a new trip. The music is still playing, attractions and hotels are open, and the greatest support you can give Music City is to come and visit.

GIVE MONEY

• Middle Tennessee Red Cross: Donate online at www.nashvilleredcross.org, by phone at 615-250-4300 or by mail at 2201 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203. Remember, the Red Cross is not a government agency and is funded solely by your local donations.
• First Tennessee Bank: First Tennessee has pledged to match donations made by employees and customers, dollar for dollar, up to $250,000. Donations can be made at any First Tennessee Bank location.

• Kroger, Dollar General, Whole Foods: Accepting donations at checkout.

• Second Harvest Food Bank: Provide monetary donations to Second Harvest HERE.
• Salvation Army: Monetary donations are preferred and can be made online HERE or by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY. Drop off your donations of bottled water, mops, brooms, heavy duty work gloves, masks, sponges, squeegees, scrub brushes, plastic gloves, bleach, all purpose cleaner concentrate, trash bags and paper towels at the 631 Dickerson Road center.
• The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee: In partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, donate online to the Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund and/or the Tennessee Emergency Relief Fund HERE (checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 440225, Nashville, TN, 37244).
• Two Rivers Baptist Church: Two Rivers Baptist Church will be taking donations  to help in flood relief for the Pennington Bend area of Nashville.   They will work with the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the local association (Nashville Baptist Association) to help the Nashville community.
• Christ Community Church: If you would like to contribute to a designated fund to help relieve some of that financial stress of those who suffered catstrophic loss over the past few weeks.
• Brentwood Baptist Church: You can donate funds specifically to relief efforts in this disaster.   

GIVE STUFF

• Graceworks Ministries: Graceworks is working with the Red Cross to collect donations for flood victims. They are in need of financial gifts, non-perishable food items (soup, crackers, pasta), bottled water, toilet paper, cleaning products, toothbrushes, shampoo, household items, furniture, baby items and gently used clothing (please separate by gender and age). Drop off donations at 104 Southeast Parkway, Franklin TN.
• Shelters: There are Red Cross shelters at Lipscomb University, Gordon Jewish Community Center, Al Menah Shrine Center and People’s Church (Franklin). Most shelters are overwhelmed by donations, so please verify their needs before you dump a truck full of beef jerky on them. Common needs for shelters are bottled water, blankets, pillows, socks, underwear and clean clothing.
• Salvation Army: The Salvation Army suffered losses just like the rest of us. They are in need of clean-up kit items (mops, brooms, heavy duty work gloves, masks, sponges, squeegees, scrub brushes, plastic gloves, bleach, all-purpose cleaner concentrate, trash bags, paper towels and cases of bottled water), Hygiene & personal care kit items (socks, underwear, t-shirts, shampoo conditioner, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc), paper products and diapers. Drop off at 425 Neelys Bend Rd, Madison (10am-7pm), 611 Stockell St (9am-6:30pm) or 631 Dickerson Pike (8am-6pm).
• The Crag at Cool Springs: Drop point for donated goods to be taken to Graceworks (see needs above).
• Trevecca Nazarine University: Group is taking food, water, first aid and toiletries to flooded neighbors around the university. If you’re in the area and want to help distribute, call Dan at 941-518-6740. Drop off donations at the Boone Business Building.
• Golden Skin Care: Golden Skin Care is collecting donations of sunscreen for flood relief volunteers. Drop off donations at 2000 Richard Jones Rd. in Green Hills.
• Christ Church: Christ Church (15354 Old Hickory Blvd) is collecting and distributing bottled water, new clothes and cleaning supplies.
• Flavour Clothing: Drop site for toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, box fans, cleaning supplies, diapers and nonperishable staple food items. 1522 Demonbreun Street.
• CREMA: Taking donations for Tent City survivors. Drop off items in the parking lot behind CREMA (15 Hermitage Ave), need tents, stoves, sleeping bags, tarps and clothing.

GIVE TIME

• Hands On Nashville: Again, all Metro Nashville relief efforts are running through Hands On Nashville. Sign up to be notified of official city volunteer opportunities HERE, and expect the opportunities to increase in volume as the waters recede and the city is able to assess the damage.
  

  Opryland Hotel, Photo by Stephen Lee

• Samaritan’s Purse: Samaritan’s Purse has deployed an emergency unit to Nashville and is working on assessing the damage and connecting with local churches. Sign up HERE (select “Nashville TN Flood Relief”) to volunteer with them.
• Second Harvest Food Bank: Contact volunteer@secondharvestmidtn.org to help prepare and transport meals for the Salvation Army and Red Cross. You can also stay updated on their current volunteer opportunities via Twitter @2HarvestMidTN.
• Graceworks Ministries: Contact cdublin@graceworksministries.net for volunteer opportunities. They will need help sorting & processing donations for the Red Cross.
• Cross Point: Meeting in Bellevue center (7669 HWY 70 South) lobby every day at 9am to send teams out to nearby neighborhoods. Can take hundreds of volunteers every day. Focusing on Bellevue neighborhoods now, but will move to other West Nashville neighborhoods in the coming days. Bring bottled water and cleaning supplies to donate.
• Soles4Souls: Soles4Souls has generously donated 20,000 pair of shoes and boots to families and workers in need. They’re going to need help distributing these shoes, so call Isabelle at 615-392-5723 to volunteer in the coming days. And as always, they could use your monetary donations if you feel so inclined: Donate here.
• ArtHouse Gardens: Teams are being organized to help neighbors who need furniture moved, debris bagged up or removed, help getting things out of water’s way or cleaning up once it’s gone. To help or receive help from 9-3 every day, call Catherine at ArtHouse Gardens at 828-9223.
• Two Rivers Baptist Church: Two Rivers Baptist Church will be organizing volunteers to help in flood relief for the Pennington Bend area of Nashville.   They will work with the Tennessee Baptist Convention and the local association (Nashville Baptist Association) to help the Nashville community.
• Cross Point Bellevue Campus: Cross Point Bellevue is uniquely positioned right at the heart of the damage in the Bellevue community. Cross Point Bellevue is located at 7669 HWY 70 South in Nashville TN.  The church is accepting donations and also asking Church groups to consider traveling to Nashville to help with the Flood Damage.
• The People’s Church Franklin: Teams from all over the country who are mobilizing to come to the Nashville Area to do relief work. If you or someone you know needs help, please email us and let us know.
• Christ Community Church: If you are a member in need of assistance of any kind, or if you would like to volunteer to help, send an email directly to Melinda Youngs , or phone her at 615-468-2256. Our goal is to get back in touch with you as soon as possible. We are working to match needs and resources with information we have received.
• Brentwood Baptist Church: Teams have gone out to work in the Bellevue, Franklin, Glenview, Antioch, Nolensville, Nashville, and Harding communities.
• Southeast Flood Relief Volunteer Center: Located at the Antioch United Methodist Church, 41 Tusculum Rd., Antioch, TN 615 290 7785.

USE THE INTERNET TO HELP

• Hendersonville Flood Relief Facebook Group
• Nashville Flood Help on Facebook
• Trevecca’s Flood Recovery Efforts on Facebook
• The People’s Church Flood Network on Facebook

Nashville, Tennessee suffered the worst flood in its history.  Is its being called a “500 year flood”.  The flooding in and around the Nashville and Franklin area is devastating. Thousands have lost everything they own, buildings damaged, lives lost, and the clean up with take months.  The cleanup has just started and the city needs your help.