By Staff
Special to the Advance
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians Tribe announced Monday that it is donating $25,000 to the Enterprise Alabama Tornado Fund. Tribal Chairman Buford L. Rolin will present the check to Mayor Kenneth W. Boswell. The donation is in an effort to assist those affected by the tornado that hit the area on March 1 of this year.
"The Tribe has always made it a priority to help those in need," Rolin said. "We feel this is a way to do that, and continue the tradition within our Tribe of helping our neighbors."
The storm devastated this community in southeast Alabama, leaving death and destruction in its path. Eight teenagers and one senior adult died when the tornado struck Enterprise High School and the surrounding area, and many people were left homeless.
"The generosity and kindness from people all the over country and the state of Alabama that have contributed to the tornado victims is greatly appreciated," Boswell said.
The Poarch Creeks have also suffered loss at the hand of Mother Nature. During the Hurricane season of 2004 the Tribe suffered tremendous damage to their reservation from Hurricane Ivan.
"During this time the Tribe received a lot of assistance from individuals, tribes and organizations, and we know how important it is to receive assistance," April Sells, Tribal EMA Director said. "Even though we were not a part of the immediate response to the devastation, I was in constant contact with David Coggins, Region 1 Coordinator, State of Alabama EMA, to see how the recovery effort was going. I was able to pass this information along to our Tribal Council which led to them making this donation."
The Enterprise Alabama Tornado Fund will be distributed through a series of three committees. The Recovery Organization of Coffee County will send trained caseworkers out into the devastated areas to evaluate circumstances of individuals in need. This organization will then make recommendations to the Citizens Committee, which consists of five members, as to the extent of need per individual. The Citizens Committee will then determine the amount of funding each individual needs and make a recommendation to the Chamber Area Foundation Board, who holds the account. The Chamber Board will then issue funds to those in need.