In Collaboration with Procter & Gamble and Walmart, Matthew 25 is Deploying
Their Disaster Response Team to Provide Services and Supplies

APRIL 28, 2024 BLUE ASH, OH – Matthew 25: Ministries, a humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization headquartered in Blue Ash, OH is responding to the destructive tornadoes that tore through the Great Plains on Friday and Saturday evenings, April 26 and 27.  Multiple tornadoes were reported, with the most destructive storms moving across locations in Nebraska, Iowa and Oklahoma.  Hundreds of buildings have been damaged or destroyed, trees and powerlines uprooted or knocked down, and thousands are without power.  Multiple people have sustained injuries, and at least one death has been reported.  Nearly 47 million people remain at risk for severe weather on Sunday.  Additionally, approximately 18 million people are under flood watches through Sunday afternoon.

In collaboration with Procter & Gamble and Walmart, Matthew 25: Ministries is deploying their Disaster Response Team along with the Tide Loads of Hope Mobile Laundry Unit and a mobile shower trailer unit to provide assistance to people impacted by the tornadoes. The team will also provide supplies such as P&G personal care kits, Pampers diapers and wipes, paper products, Zevo insect repellant and additional supplies including garbage bags, cleaning supplies and first aid and safety supplies provided by Cintas to areas impacted by the tornadoes.  Additionally, Matthew 25 will deploy the Duracell PowerForward truck, equipped to carry as many as 20,000 Duracell batteries as well as on-board charging stations for mobile devices. Matthew 25 will also deploy trucks equipped with tools and other supplies to help those cleaning up their homes and properties.  Teams are initially headed to Nebraska and Oklahoma.  While there, Matthew 25 will conduct damage assessments and work with partners serving the impacted areas to evaluate ongoing needs.

Matthew 25 is requesting monetary and product donations to supplement existing supplies and for restocking during their response to this and future disasters.

• Monetary donations: Donate online or mail checks to Matthew 25: Ministries, 11060 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242 (100% of donated funds designated for the 2024 Great Plains Tornadoes will be used for the purpose intended).
  
• Product donations: The following product donations will be accepted at our facility located at 11083 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242:
• Cases of bottled water (12- and 24- count)
• Personal care products: Antibacterial soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, body wash, deodorant, lotion, etc.
• Cleaning supplies: Laundry detergents, general cleaner, sponges, bleach (powdered form is preferred), mops, scrub brushes, buckets, rubber gloves, etc.
• Paper products: Toilet paper, paper towels, etc.
• Baby and infant supplies: Diapers, wipes, diaper rash ointment, baby wash, baby shampoo, baby lotion, etc.
• First-aid items: Bandages, gauze, pads, first aid tape, antiseptic creams, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, latex gloves, instant cold packs, etc.
• Candles and flashlights: If necessary, please include the appropriate size batteries with any flashlight donation.
• Clean-up supplies: Protective eyewear, work gloves, trash bags etc.

Matthew 25 responds to disasters domestically and internationally and provides both rapid response and long-term support. In 2023, Matthew 25 responded to disasters including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Hurricanes Idalia and Otis, wildfires in Hawaii, Syria and Turkey earthquakes, and additional storms, floods and tornadoes.  In 2024, Matthew 25 has already responded to severe weather and tornadoes that swept through portions of the Southeast in early January, tornadoes that struck middle Ohio in February, the Midwest tornadoes in March, and the Texas Wildfires as well as the Helena, AR water crisis.  Matthew 25 is also continuing response for the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, which has recently passed the two-year mark. Matthew 25: Ministries shipped over 33 million pounds of supplies in 2023, including over 12 million pounds of disaster relief, and helped more than 40 million people.

For the most current information on Matthew 25: Ministries’ activities, please visit their website https://m25m.org/disaster/gptornadoes24/ or follow Matthew 25 on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/m25m.org, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/m25m_org/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/M25M_org. For more in-depth information about Matthew 25: Ministries’ humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts, please contact Michelle Jones  mjones@m25m.org.

Matthew 25: Ministries accepts cash, check, credit card and online donations for ongoing humanitarian aid and disaster relief programs, as well as product donation support. Matthew 25 also welcomes volunteers six days a week at their Blue Ash facility.

ABOUT MATTHEW 25: MINISTRIES: Matthew 25: Ministries rescues and reuses approximately 20,000,000 pounds of products each year and redistributes them to the poorest of the poor and disaster victims. Each year, Matthew 25: Ministries impacts the lives of more than 25,000,000 individuals throughout the United States and around the world. Matthew 25 is included on Forbes’ 2023 list of America’s Top 100 Charities, is a 4-star nonprofit on Charity Navigator and has earned a Platinum-Level Candid Exchange seal. Matthew 25: Ministries is accredited by the Better Business Bureau through the “Wise Giving Alliance Standards.” For more information, or to schedule an interview, contact Michelle Jones mjones@m25m.org at Matthew 25: Ministries (513) 793-6256, or visit https://m25m.org/.