TORNADO RECOVERY IMPACT
Thank you for helping our community recover
When you gave to the Tornado Recovery Effort, you chose to help our neighbors recover. Your generosity is already at work through grants to trusted local nonprofits and community organizations providing support to individuals and families affected by the tornadoes. This page will be updated regularly as grants are awarded, so you can see how your support is helping our community recover.
Financial Help Is Available for Tornado Recovery
Households affected by the July tornado can get help with urgent, tornado-related expenses.
Through the Community Response Fund, financial assistance is available through two local nonprofits. Assistance may help cover housing, temporary lodging, transportation, childcare, utilities and other essential needs. An insurance claim is not required before requesting help.
Every household has been affected differently, so financial assistance is not one-size-fits-all. LEAVEN or People of Progression will meet with applicants one-on-one to learn more about your situation and your next steps.
To learn more about the Community Response Fund and the community partners supporting it, read the Aug. 31 press release.
TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Choose the organization that is best for you.
Use LEAVEN’s online form to schedule an appointment. If you do not have internet access, please call LEAVEN to schedule a time.
Calling People of Progression to schedule an appointment is preferred. Walk-ins are welcome, but wait times to meet with a staff member will vary.
Applicants will need proof of their primary address, which will be confirmed against the official list of tornado-affected properties.
Because each situation is assessed individually, anyone who is unsure if they qualify is encouraged to contact either organization.
LEAVEN
Initiate help through the website at LeavenFoxCities.org
Open Tuesday–Friday; evening hours are available Tuesday and Thursday. Please check the website for current hours because hours may change based on residents’ needs.
Call (920) 738-9635
Email lcrc@leavenfoxcities.org
People of Progression
Located in Menasha where there was significant damage, so it will be open for in-person walk in help. Information will be available on the website at PeopleofProgression.com
Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10am–4pm. Thursday is 10am–4pm, by appointment only.
Call 920-815-9487
As of 10/21/2026
$7,221,050 RECOVERY FUNDS AWARDED
These grants support a range of needs, including housing, financial assistance, food, mental health services, volunteer coordination, accessibility support, and recovery navigation.
A grant’s category reflects its primary recovery role. Some grants support more than one community need.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & DAILY LIVING NEEDS
$6,555,000
Flexible emergency support including rent, utilities, gas, household expenses, and other urgent needs.
Details
- LEAVEN ($4,145,000)
- People of Progression ($2,325,000)
- African Heritage, Inc. ($25,000)
- Boys & Girls Club of the Fox Valley ($25,000)
- Youth Go ($25,000)
- Caring Hearts Women & Children’s Home ($10,000)
Housing & Safe Shelter
$360,000
Emergency shelter, temporary housing, housing stability support, and assistance for households whose homes were damaged or unsafe.
Details
- Greater Fox Cities Habitat for Humanity, Rock the Block ($250,000)
- CAP Services, Inc. ($25,000)
- Casa Hispana ($25,000)
- Greater Fox Cities Habitat for Humanity ($25,000)
- World Relief Wisconsin ($25,000)
- Clarity Care ($10,000)
Crisis Response, Resource Navigation & Coordination
$170,050
Victim support, resource navigation, donation coordination, culturally responsive outreach, and recovery coordination.
Details
- Heckrodt ($25,000)
- Multicultural Coalition ($25,000)
- New Hmong ($25,000)
- Salvation Army Central Territory ($25,000)
- St. Vincent de Paul Council of Neenah-Menasha ($25,000)
- Fox Cities Victim Crisis Response Team ($10,000)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society of Appleton ($15,000)
- First English Lutheran Church, Hope & Help Together ($15,000)
- Algoma Boulevard United Methodist Church ($5,050)
Mental Health, Medical Care & Wellness
$119,500
Counseling, emotional support, wellness services, and medical care connected to tornado recovery.
Details
- REACH Counseling ($25,000)
- Partnership Community Health Center ($25,000)
- The Samaritan Counseling Center of the Fox Valley ($25,000)
- Ebb & Flow Connections Cooperative ($20,000)
- Hope Clinic and Care Center, Inc ($13,000)
- Collaborative Wellness ($10,000)
- NAMI Fox Valley ($1,500)
Food & Basic Needs
$60,000
Food distribution, hygiene items, grocery assistance, and other essentials.
Details
- Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin ($25,000)
- St. Joseph Food Program ($25,000)
- Hmong American Partnership Fox Valley ($10,000)
Clothing, Supplies & Household Essentials
$25,000
Replacement clothing, furniture, appliances, household goods, and recovery supplies.
Details
- Community Clothes Closet ($25,000)
Volunteer Coordination
$25,000
Coordination of volunteer efforts supporting ongoing recovery work.
Details
- Volunteer Fox Cities ($25,000)
Accessibility Support
$6,500
Emergency assistance for disability-related needs and barriers to accessing recovery resources.
Details
- SOAR Fox Cities ($6,500)
Q & A
Does 100% of my donation go to tornado relief and recovery?
Yes. 100% of donations to the Community Response Fund go directly to tornado relief and recovery efforts. United Way Fox Cities does not retain any portion of these donations for administrative or operational expenses. Your gift is distributed through grants to trusted local nonprofits and community organizations providing support to individuals and families affected by the tornadoes.
Where can I see how funds are being distributed?
This page will be updated regularly as funds are distributed. If you have questions about the process, please reach out.
How does my donation reach people affected by the tornadoes?
We’re committed to making sure donations are directed to people and families who need them most. Organizations receiving disaster recovery funding typically establish clear eligibility criteria to help guide these decisions. Factors may include where someone lived, the extent of damage to their home, the financial impact of the tornado, household circumstances, and whether other assistance or insurance has helped meet their needs. Special consideration may also be given to households facing greater barriers to recovery, including seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, and those who are uninsured or underinsured. This thoughtful process helps ensure that community generosity reaches people who need it most and helps fill gaps that other resources may not cover.
What does my gift help provide?
Your generosity is helping local organizations provide these critical recovery needs.
- Financial assistance
- Food
- Safe shelter and housing
- Home and property repairs
- Cleanup support
- Health and well-being services
How are funding decisions made?
Donations to the Tornado Recovery Effort are pooled in the Community Response Fund. Together, the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, United Way Fox Cities, and the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation work to identify local needs and direct grants to trusted nonprofit and community organizations providing support to individuals and families affected by the tornadoes. Grant decisions are informed by an advisory process involving staff from the three organizations and input from the Long-Term Recovery Group.
Why are funds awarded through grants to local organizations?
The Community Response Fund works through trusted local organizations that already have relationships, expertise, and systems in place to help people affected by the tornadoes. This allows community support to be quickly coordinated and directed where it is needed most.
I need help. How can I find resources and assistance?
If you or someone you know has been affected by the tornadoes and needs help, 211 remains the best place to start. Call 211 to connect with local resources and services that may be able to help with housing, food, financial assistance, cleanup, health and well-being, and other recovery needs.
An unmet need today does not mean an unmet need tomorrow. We know how discouraging it must be when you are already navigating so much and don’t get the answer you were hoping for. Please know that people across our community are listening, tracking unmet needs, and working together to connect resources where they are needed most.
What documents are needed in order to apply?
Households will need to provide proof of their primary address, which will be checked against the official list of tornado-affected properties.
Will this be the only financial assistance available for tornado recovery?
No. This assistance is meant to help with the tornado-related needs households are facing now. An additional $1,000,000 is committed to future assistance.
How do the nonprofits determine how much assistance is given?
The nonprofits work with each family to assess the status of their home, their ability to pay for utilities, their need for transportation, the loss of household goods, their ability to continue to work, and other urgent threats to their safety or basic needs. The amount is based on a household’s current needs, not the total dollar value of property that was damaged or lost.
Will the nonprofits retain any of the funds for operations?
No. For this round of funding, all funds will go directly to eligible households.
What about the other millions pledged in the community?
The Community Response Fund should not be confused with donations announced in news reports by private organizations or businesses. Those efforts are separate from the Community Response Fund.
