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Poarch Band of Creek Indians donates $180K to cover all tornado victims’ funerals
The Poarch Band of Creek Indians donated $180,000 to cover all the funeral costs for the 23 people killed in Sunday’s tornado in Lee County, the county coroner announced Thursday.
“The coroner’s office received word that they wanted to help and reached out to them and they agreed. Their first commitment was for $50,000. Later they called back and ask me what it would take to cover the costs and I gave them a figure and they graciously made it happen,” said Lee County Coroner Bill Harris. “The monies will be deposited with the East Alabama Medical Center Foundation to be dispersed to the funeral homes to cover the cost of the funerals. I am so thankful for them to step up in this manner and help the families of this tragedy.”
The heartbreaking stories of Lee County’s 23 tornado victims
Four of the 23 victims were children — ages 6, 8, 9, and 10. A family of seven was among the dead. A couple who reconnected after a hurricane also lost their lives.
The tribe’s massive donation was made amid an outpouring of contributions to help victims of Sunday’s tornadoes in Beauregard and Smiths Station.
Several crowdfunding campaigns were established to support victims’ families, including one to pay for the funeral costs of Taylor Thornton, 10. The effort to help Thornton’s family blew past the campaign’s $15,000 goal, with nearly $38,000 donated as of Thursday night.