The Gates Corp. donates $100,000 to aid in local relief efforts

The Gates Corp., which sustained significant damage to its Glade Spring facility in the April 28 tornado, presented $100,000 Tuesday to aid in local relief efforts.

Red Cross volunteers have been among those assisting the community ravaged by last month’s EF3 storm. The Gates plant, which employed 170 who produced hydraulic hose assemblies, was nearly leveled.

“It says a lot to me about this company that will step up and help its employees by giving this to us,” said Felisha McNabb, executive director of the Mountain Empire chapter of the American Red Cross, who accepted the donation. “They suffered a huge loss of their own, but I’ve been with this chapter for eight years – and this is the largest, single contribution I’m aware of.”

The donation is designed to “support relief and recovery efforts” and “help speed the community’s recovery,” according to a written statement issued by the company. Attempts to speak with a Gates spokesperson Tuesday were unsuccessful.

To date, the local Red Cross chapter and its volunteers have provided more than 16,400 meals and snacks during the first 10 days after the storm and is now concluding its meetings with families whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged, McNabb said. About 95 homes and 35 apartments received that designation by Red Cross officials.

“We’ve completed meeting with about 90 percent of the families, but [dispensing] all the individual assistance will take longer,” McNabb said. “We’ve met with 86 families but we’ve only paid the first month’s rent on about 2 percent of those so far.”

Officials estimate up to 95 families will seek Red Cross assistance and the agency has been unable to make contact with everyone affected.

To date, the local agency has spent about $129,000 on relief efforts.

“When we start paying out first month’s rent, that adds up in a hurry,” McNabb said.

The tornado recovery effort from the storm system currently ranks as the second largest in chapter history. Local case workers processed more than 200 victims who fled the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their homes in 2005, expending more than $500,000.

While the local chapter is concluding its relief efforts, it also plans to be part of the long-term solution.

“Our assistance is meant for immediate needs after a disaster – food, shelter and clothing,” McNabb said. “There will be additional needs that come up and we want to be part of the long-term recovery efforts in any way we can.”