Dear Friends,
All of us at KAF are deeply saddened and shocked by the absolute devastation that the May 16 tornado caused to a large area of our city, and the lives lost in this tragedy. To see neighborhoods so rich in community, culture and history reduced to rubble and their residents displaced is beyond heartbreaking.
The affected communities have produced and are home to some of St. Louis’ greatest artists and creators, and KAF is committed, now and in the long term, to aiding in their recovery in whatever ways we can be most effective. We are already meeting and in discussion with local civic leaders and community organizations to mobilize efforts, particularly with regards to housing and other infrastructure needs. We will continue to keep our subscribers updated on these efforts and how you can help in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, we urge you to follow and support some of our fellow organizations doing immediate boots-on-the-ground work in this recovery, including 4 The Ville and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, and visit the City of St. Louis’ Tornado Recovery Information Page for additional resources on where to help and get help.
This recovery effort will take years, but we believe in the strength and resilience of this community and know that St. Louis can emerge stronger than ever if we all work together.
Chris Hansen
