Following the deadly weekend tornado that swept through the South on Saturday, a Murfreesboro-based lawn company is collecting donations for families affected in and around Mayfield, Kentucky. Advanced Lawn Solutions will be accepting donations Wednesday, December 15 and Thursday, December 16 at the Advanced Lawn Solutions and Mikey’s Motors in Murfreesboro and Franklin.
“I grew up in Mayfield, so this hits me very hard,” Divisions Manager Ronnie Bone said in a statement shared with The Tennessee Star. “I still have lots of family there and fortunately they survived. But many children in the area were left with absolutely nothing. We will be loading ‘children-focused’ donations into our work trailers and delivering to those hardest hit by this tragic tornado.”
The statement said that Advanced Lawn Solutions was accepting donations of new items for children and general supplies, including:
- Toiletries
- Flashlights
- Toys
- Rain Coats / Ponchos
- Boots
- Tarps
- Gloves
- Cash
- Coats
- Stocking Caps
The addresses to drop off donations are:
- Advanced Lawn Solutions: 6522 Forrest Lane, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
- Mikey’s Motors in Murfreesboro: 2118 N Thompson Ln, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
- Mikey’s Motors in Franklin: 4410 Peytonsville Rd, Franklin, TN 37064
The division manager said donations will be accepted during regular business hours, and then driven to Mayfield on Friday, December 17. Bone added questions about the effort may be sent to him by email at [email protected]; and he invited potential donors to call him directly at 615–223–5537.
The Star reported on the damage caused by the tornadoes in Kentucky. Governor Andy Beshear said following the tornado outbreak, there was a possibility of over 100 fatalities.
Beshear added that one of the multi-state outbreaks left a 200-mile trail of destruction that included a candle factory in Mayfield that was obliterated as the night shift was at work.
The December 10 and 11 tornadoes were the “worst, most devastating, most deadly tornado event” in the state’s history, according to Beshear.
There are many other ways to donate to the victims of the storms. The state of Kentucky has a website available for online cash donations. The Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund states that since the donations will be used for public purposes, the donations will be eligible for tax deductions.
There is also the American Red Cross, which is accepting blood and cash donations. Red Cross has a website to find nearby blood donation locations.
And multiple community fire departments and schools have created donation programs. Including the Bellevue-Dayton Fire Department, which has asked for blankets, bottled water, personal hygiene products, and cleaning supplies; and the Villa Madonna Academy, which has asked for bottled water, antibacterial wipes, new socks, and new blankets.
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Morgan Nicole Veysey is a reporter for The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow her on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
