Coalition of Concerned Families serves as ‘guardian angels’ to those impacted by tornado using BBCF grant

When the Jan. 12 tornado hit Selma, Coalition of Concerned Families answered the call of duty and immediately began responding to residents’ varied needs.

The destruction was massive, spanning across all corners of the city and county, affecting all walks of life, many businesses and some educational facilities — most notable were the new homeless population and the shrinkage to an already struggling housing market.

CCF saw the need of displaced families. They are helping employees in jeopardy of losing their jobs for reasons related to the tornado, including no transportation to work because trees destroyed their vehicles. They helped make repairs from tarping to a total rebuild.

Thanks to donations from several local organizations, and especially a $100,000 tornado relief grant from the Black Belt Community Foundation, CCF was able to help many Selma residents solve a variety of hardships due to the storm.

“From the custodian to the nurse to the plant worker to the shoe store manager and construction man – you name it, they were affected. One day we would be serving 20 families, the next almost 40. Then, we found ourselves feeding hundreds of individuals we did not know were out there,” said Angela Benjamin, who helped found the organization in 1998.

“We fed them, took them for medication and to work by traveling in one van loaned to us by SuperWoman Inc., a local nonprofit here in Selma. … We’ve repaired roofs, purchased furniture and held babies while their mothers and fathers broke down and cried. If you can imagine it, we probably provided it, including a massage and listening therapist. The needs were vast.”

CCF was one of five agencies in Dallas County to receive a tornado relief grant from BBCF from about $1 million collected from donations that flooded in after the storm. 

BBCF’s funds helped Conec Walker, a now-homeless elderly resident who walked to CCF’s office space provided by MainStreet Urgent Care on Highway 80 looking for help. He was weary, hungry and now homeless. Walker said a person at the hotel where he’s staying told him to go and ask for the “tornado people” at the urgent care. That’s where he found CCF.

“I walked a pretty good piece, but it was a straight shot. I don’t have my car or my dog. I need to go back and find him. My house don’t exist no more,” Walker said. 

Walker exited his home while the tornado went over his house to go find his dog and had to hold onto a tree to survive the 135 mph winds. He later found his dog a long distance from what was his home and gave him a proper burial. 

“I thank y’all for all the food and the hotel and all the rides y’all give me back and forth to everywhere I need to go, but I want to get out of this hotel,” he stated a month ago. “Can y’all please just find me anything right now?” 

CCF also helped Tyeshia Smith, who heard a loud noise and ran between her washer and dryer. The next thing she saw, she too was being vacuumed away. She held on for her life. 

“I was a victim of the tornado. My house was completely destroyed. Before Ms. Benjamin and the Family Coalition’s help, we were really helpless, struggling to have somewhere to sleep, live, and eat. And a result of Ms. Benjamin’s help, I can stay in a hotel, and I can have something to eat, and clothing because I lost everything. Ms. Benjamin and the Family Coalition is my guardian angel. If it wasn't for them, I don't know where I would be. We are still living in a hotel, and that’s stressful. I hope to have a home soon, and I will be needing everything.”

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Carolyn Kennedy has a decent job but continues to live in a hotel after the storm.

“I’m so lost,” she said. “The Coalition of Concerned Families has helped me keep part of my sanity because this could drive you crazy. I’m still in this hotel, but it’s a roof. My home is gone, and I can’t find one to save my life.”

Renarda White, CCF Treasurer, told Kennedy about her organization. 

“They gave me hotel stays, food, household items and two gift cards. Without all of this, I just don’t know. All of these months gone by, and they are somehow still able to help people. This is from the Lord.”

A Selma married couple is completely rebuilding a six-figure home after it was destroyed in the tornado.

“We were able to provide them part of what they were lacking. This is the group no one is talking about – the families with two incomes but suddenly need help through absolutely no fault of their own,” stated Jasmine Pritchett, Vice-President of CCF. 

One of CCF’s unusual cases involved helping someone get transportation because hers was destroyed. Her high-paying job was now in jeopardy because she struggled to get a ride to work. She only needed a few more thousand dollars to get the car she felt she needed. 

“One of the principles we live by is an actual social work principle,” stated Benjamin. “We believe in helping to the highest power so we can ensure that those we serve feel valued and that their dignity and self-worth were kept intact after seeing us.”

CCF used all the BBCF funds available helping those in need in Selma and Dallas County and has a waiting list, Benjamin said. CCF hopes to secure additional funding to fill the continued need.

“We have made it to Phase II while still trying to help those with Phase I needs – Housing, Rebuilding & Relocation,” Benjamin said. “This will take funding or the task ahead of us will be insurmountable. CCF is a small organization with a big heart. We are chewing the elephant one bite at a time, starting with the human condition and ending wherever the final dollar lands us. We hope to have enough financial support to do that. Our partners gave us a great start.” 

CCF received help for their mission from Foot Soldiers Park, Black Voters Matter and Edmundite Missions. Benjamin said Felecia Lucky of the Black Belt Community Foundation did not hesitate to put their trust in CCF to get direct services to the people who need it and are grateful for the $100,000 tornado relief grant.

“Our organization cuts out a lot of the red tape, bureaucracy, and long waits to receive an answer to a crisis,” Benjamin said. “We’ve served throughout disasters small and large, from Hurricane Katrina to the 2011 Super Outbreak tornadoes to Hurricanes Ivan and Zeta and everything in between. But the larger disasters are usually someplace else. Then Jan. 12 arrived. After being spared from tornados since forever, we were struck, it seems, without warning. It was time to call upon our partners on this one.”