It’s easy to forget that the siren drills Columbus residents hear every Wednesday at noon are there for a very real purpose – to make sure we are prepared when disaster strikes. And as our family and friends in Dayton, Ohio learned in May, disaster can strike at any time.

Some of the first aerials of Dayton-area tornado damage. Devastating.pic.twitter.com/e7pvLjwREC — Dakota Smith (@weatherdak) May 28, 2019

It takes time to for cities to rebuild after disasters, and it takes time for people to recover. But over time, people forget about the communities affected by a crisis. While warnings kept virtually everyone physically safe (only one storm-related death), our friends in Dayton lost their homes, family heirlooms and pictures, pets, and their sense of security.

The damage here in #Celina is devastating. The mayor tells me there are several serious injuries and a fatality. Dozens of homes destroyed here. Our prayers are with everyone impacted. pic.twitter.com/p6bvryvPHn — Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) May 28, 2019

Coffee for Tornado Relief

When we see natural disasters, we often think “that’s terrible – I wish I could help.” But most of us just don’t know how. Even POINT’s crisis relief partners primarily needed skilled individuals who could operate machinery, which leaves a lot us wondering what we can contribute. In these situations, donations of day to day supplies go a long way.

Last month, POINT partnered with our friends at Roosevelt Coffee House to use what we’ve got to make an impact and raise money for Dayton’s recovery efforts. Thanks to them and all of our awesome coffee-lovin’ friends in Columbus, we were able to provide urgently needed items for Dayton’s crisis relief centers.

We want you to know exactly what you are supporting and how you’re making a difference. Right now we are partnering with @pointapp to help provide disaster relief in Dayton at both our Long St. and Broad St. locations 🖤 #goodcoffeeforgood . . . . . . . #asseenincolumbus #rooseveltcoffeehouse #experiencecolumbus #cbus #coffe #columbuscoffee #coffeeart #baristadaily #columbusohio #coffee #lovejusticecoffee #rooseveltcoffeeroasters #goodcoffeeforgood #614coffee #barista #lifeincolumbus #columbuscoffeeexperience #instacoffee #ohio #coffeelove #giveback #nonprofit #craftcoffee #coffeeroaster #specialtycoffee #give #daytonohio

On Monday, our head of Community Outreach took the money from our fundraiser with Roosevelt to buy diapers and toiletries and delivered them to Dayton Children’s Hospital, where Dayton’s relief center is located.

Here’s what your donations and coffee purchases helped buy for families displaced from their homes:

1,800 diapers

3,500 baby wipes

96 bars of soap

18 bulk shampoo/conditioners

288 razors

100 deodorants

1,472 tampons/pads

40 tubes of toothpaste

80 toothbrushes

The employees at Dayton Children’s told us that they received a lot of donations in the beginning, but the support has dwindled off as people have gotten back to their lives. While enthusiasm drops off as time goes on, the recovery is long and the need remains.

Columbus – you’ve been generous. Your donations have already made a difference, but there is still a need.

Want to help more but don’t know where to start? We got you.

Put that heart of gold to work by:

Donating to the Dayton Disaster Relief Fund set up by the Dayton Foundation here. Giving blood. Find more information here or make an appointment with the American Red Cross. Going through your basement or your parent’s garage and look for an extra hammer or a drill. The Cincinnati ToolBank is collecting donations to help people *literally* rebuild.

Thanks for always being willing to help out your fellow Buckeyes. We see you, and we appreciate you!