LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. discussed plans to distribute funds to nonprofit organizations and families affected by the March 31 tornado.
The mayor also updated the public with plans to provide monetary help from the Little Rock CARES fund to several nonprofit organizations and affected families. The fund was initially used during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Scott said that it was repurposed to help those in need.
According to city officials, donors have given more than $500,000 to the fund. Scott said that 40% of the funds will go to the following nonprofits:
- Immanuel Baptist Church
- Goodwill Industries
- American Red Cross Little Rock chapter
- United Way – 211
- Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief
- Calvary Baptist Church
- Samaritan’s Purse
- The Van
The mayor said that the listed organizations will have to sign a memorandum of understanding to ensure funds go toward tornado recovery efforts and affected families. The remaining funds will go towards individual grants for direct assistance to families, the mayor said.
In this week’s update, Scott said that contractors have removed up to 250,000 cubic yards of waste with 400,000 cubic yards left to clean. He said that this process could take up to 90 days.
One of the structures destroyed in the tornado was the Little Rock Fire Department Station 9 on Shackleford Road.
Fire officials said that the demolishing and reconstructing process could take up to two years to complete. In the meantime, officials are looking to find a temporary building to put a fire station back in the neighborhood.
The mayor said that the city will make future announcements in the next city update.
