United Way: Storm recovery fund tops $1 million; initial grants deployed to four nonprofits

The winter-storm recovery fund set up to help Nashvillians surpassed $1,000,000 in donations, Metro officials said at a mayoral briefing, and United Way of Greater Nashville has begun distributing initial grants to community partners.

Erica Mitchell, representing United Way of Greater Nashville, said the $1 million milestone shows the city’s capacity to rally after the storm. “Reaching $1,000,000 raised is an extraordinary moment, for our community,” Mitchell said, thanking corporate donors and volunteers. Mitchell said an initial $120,000 was deployed to four nonprofit partners — Hope Station, Rooftop, Connexion and Catholic Charities — to begin getting funds into the community.

Mitchell said 700 cases had been submitted through the city’s needs tracker and that United Way hopes to distribute additional rounds of funding later in the week as more donations are realized and committed. She also said airbnb.org has connected 901 people and 149 pets to temporary housing provided at no cost to guests through that program’s donors.

Mayor and city officials urged residents to report needs through the needs tracker at nashvilleresponse.org (or call 211) so assistance can be prioritized and routed to people with the greatest need. The mayor said the city will “accept any amount of aid and run it through our needs tracker to get it to those who need it most.”

Officials said the initial round of grantmaking focused on organizations that can quickly provide direct financial assistance, vouchers and essential supplies; the mayor and United Way stressed this was the first distribution and more funds will be allocated as the needs tracker captures additional cases.

The briefing concluded with a commitment to continue stewarding donations “with urgency, transparency, and care,” and to coordinate through the VOAD process to match funds to needs.