SMB Joplin Tornado Relief Fund up to $55,000

(From Southwest Missouri Bank)

Immediately following the devastating tornado that swept through Joplin on May 22, Southwest Missouri Bank (SMB) opened an account to help the Joplin community. The Tornado Relief Fund was opened with a $10,000 initial deposit from SMB, and that amount has grown to nearly $55,000. With donations coming in from Joplin and across the country, all money donated is earmarked to go to the Red Cross, and will stay in Joplin.


With one disbursement already made to the Red Cross, and another scheduled for later this week, SMB Marketing Director Peggy Fuller has been excited by the support. “We are amazed and heartened by the generosity shown by the donors to our SMB Tornado Relief Fund.”

“The account is growing every day, and we have had several large contributions,” Fuller said. “The great majority of deposits are $10 and $20, and those donations are adding up quickly. And then there are random amounts, like we see deposits of $43.27 we think that must be children bringing in piggy banks and giving to our fund. We appreciate each and every donation.”

Donations to the account are currently being accepted at any SMB location, and donations from outside of the immediate area can be sent to Southwest Missouri Bank, ATTN: Tornado Relief Fund, 4000 E. 7th St., Joplin, MO 64801. Those interested in making online donations can go directly to the local Red Cross site at www.redcross-ozarks.org.

“We plan to keep the fund open indefinitely. Our communities in Joplin and Duquesne have made a strong start in the rebuilding efforts, but they will need help for many months,” Fuller added. “As long as people are continuing to be generous in their donations to tornado relief, we will have the fund available for them to use.”