ST. LOUIS—Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS), Saint Louis Public Schools Foundation and Little Bit Foundation partnered to open a Tornado Relief Resource Center. Twelve schools in the city were affected by the tornado.

The center at Metro Academic and Classical High School, at 4015 McPherson Avenue, will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to help anyone affected by last month’s tornado. 

“We wanted to concentrate our efforts on having a long term plan,” said Miranda Walker Jones, president and CEO of Little Bit Foundation. “We know we'll have families that are going to be displaced that are in Saint Louis public schools.” 


What You Need To Know

  • Saint Louis Public Schools, its foundation and Little Bit Foundation partnered to open a tornado relief Resource Center

  • The center will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide case management, essential items, food and more to anyone affected last month

  • People may continue to volunteer or donate to their relief effort

 

Walker Jones said Little Bit Foundation is helping find the displaced families stable homes and provide essential supplies.

“Our goal is to make sure that we have students overcome the barriers to education. This is quite a barrier not having a home, the effects of a tornado —We want to make sure that we can get them as stable as possible so that they can either get in summer school and be ready for school next year,” she said.

Partners are providing case management needs like housing, transportation, employment, public assistance, school transfers and more. Also, essential items such as shoes, clothing, socks, underwear, hygiene products, cleaning supplies food and more. They’re hoping to help families get back into stable place before next school year. 

Thanks to their partnership with SLPS, the schools are able to contact families and inform them directly about the center. Additionally, the partners are passing out fliers in the affected neighborhoods to get the word out.

Walker Jones believes they’ll remain operational well into July at the Metro high school location. Even if the affected person is not connected to SLPS, she stated they’re there to help completely free. 

“Everything is 100% free, everything is free! The generosity of the people,” Walker Jones said.

She mentioned the Hazelwood School District brought three trucks of supplies. 

Anyone who wishes to give or help sustain the partners’ relief effort may sign up to volunteer or donate supplies.

“We have 12 schools damaged and a significant number of families in the district who were directly impacted by the devastating tornado earlier this month. Many of them have been displaced from their homes and some will not be able to return,” said Millicent Borishade, superintendent of SLPS on the Little Bit Foundation page.

“SLPS has and always will work to be a cornerstone of the community – not only a place of learning but a beacon of support for families and neighborhoods we serve. We know our families are hurting right now, dealing with loss and uncertainty and needing long-term solutions. This will be a coordinated, in-depth effort to help them get back on their feet before the start of the next school year.”

Saint Louis Public Schools Foundation CEO, Haliday Douglas, says, “In addition to our focus on scholars, we also look to support SLPS educators who’ve experienced loss. Many of them were at the schools at the time the tornado hit, ensuring our students’ safety, communicating with families, and providing calmness during chaos.”

For more information, visit or contact the Little Bit Foundation.