COMMUNITY FIRST. The $20,000 in grants the Community Foundation of Chippewa County awarded Wednesday will allow cleanup efforts in Stanley to continue and strengthen the community against future natural disasters. (Submitted photo)

A devastating natural disaster in a Chippewa County community continues to inspire support as recovery efforts continue two months later.

A storm system, including a few tornadoes, swept through the Midwest last Dec. 15, resulting in major storm damage in the Chippewa County city of Stanley. The high winds uprooted trees, knocked out power, and destroyed 15 to 20 homes, according to the Stanley Fire Department. Fortunately, continued funding will assist cleanup efforts in the town of 3,700 people.

The Community Foundation of Chippewa County announced Thursday that a total of $20,000 in grants from the Response-Recovery-Rebuild Fund have been awarded to support nonprofits and public charities directly serving the Stanley community and those impacted by the tornado. The following organizations received funding:

• American Red Cross of NW Wisconsin – to support costs related to Stanley tornado response.
• City of Stanley Police Department – to purchase a radio tower, antenna, and repeater for future crisis preparedness as a result of the Stanley tornado.
• Feed My People – food credit for Fruit of the Vine Food Pantry to assist those in need who were impacted by the Stanley tornado.
• Fruit of the Vine Food Pantry – to purchase hygiene products for increased needs as a result of the Stanley tornado.
• Stanley Area Food Pantry – to purchase food items for those in need who were impacted by the Stanley tornado.
• • Stanley Community Association – to purchase household items for families in need as a result of the Stanley tornado. 

The City of Stanley Police Department will use its grant funding to help prepare for future crises.

“These funds will be an invaluable resource for our emergency responders for years to come,” Police Chief Lance Weiland said. “Ensuring that staff have a dependable means to communication is such a vital component as to the efficiency and effectiveness of the transmission of information, particularly in times of emergent need, and this funding will allow us to incorporate these integral components.”

The Response-Recovery-Rebuild Fund was established in April 2020 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic and was put in place to serve during future crisis situations in Chippewa County.

The fund has granted more than $143,000 to 36 organizations to support their efforts in serving Chippewa County residents. Grants have supported food pantries, safe shelter for residents, cleaning and protective supplies, childcare programming, and virtual learning tools. The Response Fund is open at this time and only accepting applications for nonprofit needs due to the Stanley tornado. 

Applications can be requested by emailing grants@yourlegacyforever.org. To see a full list of organizations and projects serving Chippewa County that received funding, please visit yourlegacyforever.org/grants/distributions.