What is Rotary District 6360 doing to help?

Our hearts go out to the Southwest Michigan communities of Edwardsburg, Three Rivers and Union City impacted by one of five tornadoes on March 6. Taking immediate action are The Red Cross, Homeland Security and various entities trained in Disaster Response who are working tirelessly on the ground in search and recovery and assessing damage and needs.

Important to note is that in bringing assistance to those impacted, Red Cross will run point, with Rotary responding to Red Cross requests. There has been an outpouring of support from Rotarians around District 6360, from Governors in Zones 28 and 32 and from the Rotary International Foundation. We feel blessed to have so many caring members, are confident we will get through this TOGETHER and ask for everyone’s patience as we take the right steps. For guidance, we will work from a 5-Step Plan in Disaster Response. This will be the first of several updates we will be sharing with you.

Impacted Communities and Rotary Clubs:

• • Edwardsburg in Cass County
  • Three Rivers in St Joseph County
  • Union City in St. Joseph County

Donate by Check

• Please make your check payable to "Rotary District 6360 Foundation"
• Please put "Disaster Response" in the memo line, along with what club/ community you wish to support if you have a preference.
• Mail the check to the district foundation office at:

Rotary District 6360 Foundation
Attn: Rick Merrill
705 Pearl Beach Rd,
Coldwater, MI 49036
Tel: (517) 614-3401

5-Step Plan in Disaster Response

Step 1: Check On Fellow Rotarians

Assistant Governors, contact Maria Matson and John Cunningham are working with the Rotary Club of Three Rivers President Christy Trammel and Union City President Paula DeJongh, helping them contact all current and past Rotarians that may have been impacted and offer assistance with:

• • Shelter, water, food, medical supplies and pet care

Step 2: Call 211 and Red Cross

Since state and local funding will be critical to support damage repair, it is essential that calls are made to 211 to report impact immediately, the following will be relayed:

• • Call 211 before calling insurance
  • Seek a local Red Cross Relief Center for essentials which will be made available

Step 3: Contact Insurance

Impacted Rotarians are being encouraged to contact their Insurance Agent. If Rotarians do not have insurance, there may be funds available through the Red Cross. Impacted residents are encouraged to:

• • Beware of scammers, preying on victims
  • Going through Insurance Agents for all clean up and repairs, vs solicitors
  • Key contact for support, Past State Farm National VP/Rotary Club of South Haven, Contact PDG Mark Odland

Step 4: Disaster Response Support

If Rotarians (or anyone) wants to help the impacted communities, they are encouraged to reach out to The Red Cross:

• • Visit a Red Cross Center or go online at Red Cross website
  • Michigan Volunteer Registry Website

Step 5: Disaster Relief Funding

• Applying for a Rotary International Disaster Response Grant(s)
• Rotary International Foundation Chair for District 6360, PDG Kathy Gallagher is in direct communication with leaders at the Rotary International Foundation and the District 6360 Foundation.

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Key Contacts

- District Governor Jackie Huie, Send email

All Donations

Rotary International Foundation Committee Chair, Kathy Gallagher, Contact Kathy

District Disaster Response Committee

- Chair Jim Cupper 
- After The Storm Director Raj Wiener, Send Email

Nonprofit Disclosure

The Rotary District 6360 Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Contributions to the Rotary District 6360 Foundation are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.