Immediately after the tornadoes of April 15 and 27, our long-time partner The Federation of Southern Cooperatives began working hard to help rural residents and farmers who lost so much. Farm Aid immediately made a $5,000 grant from our Disaster Fund to help the Federation, and we thank everyone who made generous donations to our Family Farm Disaster Fund. But responding to disaster also involves supplies and hands to do work–and that’s what the Federation so crucially needs right now. And everyone can help! Here is an excerpt from their website:

“The Federation has been working to make its Rural Training and Research Center (RTRC) near Epes, Alabama, a staging area for relief and recovery efforts. We have focused our work on small, in some cases isolated, rural communities in the Alabama Black Belt counties surrounding Tuscaloosa to the south and west. We have also http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifserved some neighboring areas in east Mississippi. Click here for recent photos and here for the more detailed updates on the relief efforts.”

The Federation is in need of non-perishable food, toiletries, personal care items, baby food and diapers, cleaning kits, towels, linens, furniture, building materials, generators and other supplies. If you are in the area, they could use your help as a volunteer to help distribute and transport the goods as well as help with record keeping. Your efforts will help ensure that this aid is distributed in a fair and timely manner to families in need.

If you can lend a hand, you can contact the Federation through their website: www.federation.coop or by phone: 205-652-9676.

Thanks for all you do to support family farmers–in times of disaster and every day.