The Nashville community has been AMAZING in the 48 hours since the deadliest tornado outbreak in our city's history swept along I-40 and leveled parts of Davidson, Wilson, and Putnam Counties. Between volunteer efforts (17,000 people have signed up for Hands On Nashville since the disaster), monetary gifts, and supply donations, we're living up to our reputation as one of the nation's friendliest cities.
But one community affected by the storms isn't feeling nearly as much love, and it's time for that to change.
Residents of North Nashville, an area that got hit extremely hard by the tornado, are pleading via social media for help as media attention has focused largely on Germantown, East Nashville, and Lebanon.
And indeed, the scene in North Nashville is gut-wrenching.
I was told via a concerned listener earlier today that 23rd Street, Jefferson Street, and DB Todd Jr. Blvd were among some of the most devastated areas of the midstate, but they're getting a fraction of the attention of other locations.
Tennessee State University sustained damage, including an ag building that was completely destroyed, and many of the families on the affected streets are still without power and struggling to find warm meals and necessities.
The cleanup and recovery process was complicated even further by an active shooter in affected areas earlier tonight.
Thankfully, a few individuals and businesses DID take notice today and make an effort to extend the recovery efforts into North Nashville.
Lee Chapel AME Church and Jefferson St. Missionary Baptist Church have set up distribution of supplies and essentials to families in need, but those locations still need an influx of donations to be able to fully serve the community.
In addition, Waffle House mobilized their food truck just outside the Jefferson Street church handing out free meals to anyone who needed it
At the end of the day, though, this is still a community ravaged by the storm with a LOT of needs - food, supplies, a helping hand with the clean up of their neighborhood.
It's amazing how the community has come together in the most difficult of times, but let's make sure that a very important part of our city doesn't get ignored.
You can continue to donate supplies at our iHeartMedia headquarters, located at 55 Music Square W. We're partnering to the Goodness Project to deliver those items to communities in need, including North Nashville and Cookeville. If you'd rather donate directly to organizations in these underserved areas, please drop them off at either the Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church or Lee Chapel AME Church on D.B. Todd Jr. Blvd.
#NashvilleStrong