Southwest Michigan Care Fund raises over $70K in three weeks
United Way Southwest Michigan ST. JOSEPH, Mich. -- The United Way of Southwest Michigan announced within three weeks since activating the Southwest Michigan Cares Fund, total donations have passed $70,000 with more than 210 donors from across the region.
The fund was activated on March 7 after a powerful supercell storm tore through Cass, St. Joseph, and Branch counties, spawning tornadoes near Edwardsburg, Three Rivers, and Union City.
Four people were killed, more than a dozen were injured, and countless homes, businesses, and buildings were damaged or destroyed. Cass County even declared a local state of emergency, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the state's Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the response.
"When we turned on the Southwest Michigan Cares Fund, we knew our community would show up," said Anna Murphy, President and CEO of United Way of Southwest Michigan. "$70,000 in donations is real, meaningful help for these organizations on the ground helping people in their own communities to recover. We are grateful to every single person and organization that has given."
The fund remains open for individual and corporate donations on the Southwest Michigan Cares website.
Those in need of assistance can get referrals to agencies providing essential needs and recovery services by dialing 2-1-1 or going to MI211.org.
