ROGERS, Ark. — On May 31, nearly a week after damaging tornadoes tore through Benton County, 5NEWS partnered with the American Red Cross to raise money for tornado relief in Northwest Arkansas.
Thanks to many of you, we hit a big fundraising goal, and every dollar you donated will go to helping people who desperately need it right now.
"I've never seen the devastation I've seen here," Steve Watkins, the superintendent of the Decatur school district, said. "And it's heartbreaking, but it's inspiring to see the community come together, all of Northwest Arkansas, come together to support one another."
5NEWS has brought you stories all week of Northwest Arkansas residents, first responders, business owners, and more who were affected by the tornadoes that spun through the region on May 26th.
We've seen countless examples of people stepping up to help each other in dire moments.
"That morning we couldn't get to Rocky Branch Marina," Benton County Sheriff Shawn Holloway recalled. "We had several people that were brought in by boat from Rocky Branch to Prairie Creek where we were at by private citizens."
The 5CARES fundraiser began bright and early on Friday morning, with supporters stopping in to donate on-site and Delta Dental of Arkansas pledging to match a portion of the funds.
"We're not alone in this business, we need to help each other," Congressman Steve Womack of Arkansas' third district said. "And that's part of a resiliency like a community like Rogers, or Decatur, or Centerton, Rocky Branch, Prairie Creek on into the eastern part of our state. People helping people is what we do."
Many of you watching our newscasts this week heard our encouragement to donate online, and you really stepped up to do so!
Together, we raised $51,833 by 6:30 on Friday.
During our 4 p.m. newscast on Friday, Lori Arnold with the American Red Cross explained how your money not funds the non-profits relief work, but it also goes directly to the people who lost so much from the tornadoes in the form of financial relief.
"The real impact comes in the next few days when we're ready to start giving out financial assistance," Lori Arnold, the executive director for the Greater Arkansas branch of the American Red Cross, explained. "And so those people who have been hit hardest who really have lost everything they may be eligible then for American Red Cross assistance."
From all of us at 5NEWS and the American Red Cross, thank you so much for your support!
By the way, you can continue to donate to our 5CARES American Red Cross fundraiser for the next week, which you can find here.
If you need direct financial relief because of tornado damage, reach out to the Red Cross here.
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