UDWI REMC Community Fund Grant Donated $5,000 For Disaster/Tornado Relief To Local Residents
BLOOMFIELD, Ind. (June 06, 2025)— The UDWI REMC Community Fund, Inc. donated $5,000 in disaster relief funds to the American Red Cross, providing relief to local Monroe and Greene County residents affected by the tornado and severe storms that swept through the area on May 16.
The American Red Cross was founded in 1881 with the mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and generosity of donors. As a nonprofit humanitarian organization, they provide disaster relief, disaster preparedness education, and other services in the United States.
The two local Red Cross locations that provided relief for the May 16 tornado/storm disasters were the following: United Way of South Central Indiana, or United Way, (Monroe County) at 431 S. College Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47403 and the Linton First Christian Church (Greene County) at 9878 W. State Rd 54, Linton, IN 47441. As local organizations, United Way and Linton First Christian Church often partner with nonprofits, such as the American Red Cross of Southeast Indiana, to support their local communities in Monroe and Greene Counties.
“We know disaster recovery doesn’t happen overnight,” said Michelle Ellis, a United Way Board Member and Director of Training Programs at Wagler Education and Training Center. Ellis continued to describe how United Way was able to help provide local disaster relief in Monroe County, saying “But with the strength of our community and the support of donors and partners, we can help ensure that no one has to face recovery alone.”
According to the Indiana Red Cross website, in April 2025, Red Cross volunteers and disaster responders assisted 760 households in Indiana affected by severe weather, including tornadoes and flooding. Their support included the distribution of more than 7,700 meals and snacks, 3,000 relief items, and the provision of 200 overnight stays across seven emergency shelters. The American Red Cross also extended aid to thousands more throughout the Midwest and the entire nation.
As a whole, the American Red Cross has provided lifesaving aid to more than 229 million people worldwide. In the United States alone, they responded to over 60,000 disasters in 2024, offering critical support to individuals and communities impacted by major disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires, tornadoes, and hurricanes.
The UDWI REMC Community Fund, Inc. allows cooperative members to give back to their communities by rounding up to the nearest whole dollar on their electric bills. The money accumulated is poured right back into local communities by awarding grants to various organizations.
The latest round of UDWI REMC Community Fund grant recipients included: Autism Rocks and Rolls Corporation, Bloomfield Elementary PTO, Eastern Greene Fire Territory, Franklin Township Community Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., God’s Hands In Action, Healthy Hearts WRV, Lawrence County Cancer Patient Services, Linton-Stockton School Corporation, Metropolitan School District of Shakamak, Teachers Warehouse, Inc., Valley Mission Church of the Nazarene, and Teachers Warehouse.
To learn more about the American Red Cross, including how to volunteer, donate, and support, visit www.redcross.org, call 1(800)733-2767, or follow them on Facebook.
The UDWI REMC Community Fund, Inc. is now accepting applications for its next grant cycle. All nonprofit businesses in UDWI REMC’s service area are encouraged to apply.