Last month, several people lost their lives, others were injured and many homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged when tornadoes and other severe storms ripped through the commonwealth. In an effort to help Virginians who suffered losses from February’s storms, the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is collecting tax deductible donations through its store registers for the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund.
The Virginia Disaster Relief Fund, a state-managed fund administered by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), will help finance the repair or reconstruction of underinsured homes and buildings; replace essential household items; provide transportation assistance and temporary living expenses; and offer other needed financial support for Virginians recovering from storm-related loss.
Fund proceeds will be distributed as grants to local long-term recovery groups, members of the Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and other nonprofit and faith-based organizations.
Each of Virginia ABC’s 358 stores across the commonwealth is accepting donations for the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund. Customers receive a separate receipt for their tax-deductible donation, which is accepted via cash, credit or debit cards. A searchable list of Virginia ABC stores can be found on the agency’s updated website at www.abc.virginia.gov.
Citizens may also donate to the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund online at https://vaemergency.gov/donate or mail a check to Virginia Disaster Relief Fund, Comptroller’s Office, P.O. Box 1971, Richmond, VA 23218-1971.
In the wake of the April 2011 tornado crisis, Virginia ABC developed the capability for donations to be electronically transferred through the store’s point-of-sale systems to the relief fund. To date, ABC customers and staff have donated nearly $230,500 since 2011 to the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund.
