Poarch Creek Indians donate $140,000 to Flatwood tornado survivors as council funds stall
While the Montgomery City Council stalled again on its planned donation of $500,000 it plans to gift to Flatwood, the Poarch Creek Indians came through with $140,000 for people who lost their homes during the tornado four months ago.
The City Council has had gifting the $500,000 to Flatwood as an agenda item for the past few months. Council Member Glen Pruitt said that the ordinance should be ready by the next meeting.
Pruitt has been working with lawyers to get the wording of the ordinance correct before bringing it before the council.
On Tuesday, the Poarch Creek Indians presented the check of $140,000 to Flatwood. The money will go toward buying a home for Jacqueline Fuller whose home was destroyed in the tornado.
“I thank the Lord for getting back home," Fuller said.
Fuller has lived in Flatwood all her life. She inherited the home from her grandparents when they died.
Since the tornado, the people of Flatwood have received more than $300,000 in donations. With that money, the River Region United Way, which is organizing much of the recovery efforts, has been able to buy three homes for tornado survivors, said Jannah Bailey, the president and CEO of RRUW.
“This to me says so much to me about a community coming together," Bailey said about the donations.
Stephanie Bryan, the tribal chairwoman and CEO of the Poarch Creek Indians, decided to give money to Flatwood to help build stronger communities in Alabama.
“We believe in building stronger, safer communities together," Bryan said. She later added, “It’s just heartbreaking, but guess what we can rebuild together."
The Flatwood area did not qualify for federal or state assistance because the damage wasn't widespread enough to reach those thresholds.
Including the homes that the RRUW has already replaced, Bailey plans to replace 12 trailers in the community.
People have given about $300,000 to Flatwood, but advocates are fighting to bring in $679,300.
Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or 479-926-9570.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Poarch Creek Indians donate $140,000 to Flatwood tornado survivors
