The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis will hold its third major food and supplies distribution event from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Urban League headquarters at N. Kingshighway and Page.
Michael P. McMillan, Urban League president and CEO, said his organization and its many partners are providing resources to 3,000 people at the events, and another 2,000 are being served during the week.
“We have given away a quarter of a million dollars in supplies and resources including food, toiletries, and other resources,” he said.
“The devastation is so enormous. People are still trying to rebuild and get their lives back on track.”
The May 16, 2025, tornado ripped through parts of St. Louis County, the city, and Metro East, and much of the most extensive damage is literally in the Urban League’s backyard.
There is still great demand for tarps and wood for people trying to protect damaged homes and businesses. Hundreds of families have been forced to leave their homes.
“What many people need most is a place to stay,” said McMillan.
“We are making sure that people have a safe place to go to, especially when their home has been deemed uninhabitable. We have opened a shelter with the Red Cross, and we have 150 people in hotels.”
The Urban League of St. Louis is offering hotel vouchers for people whose homes were destroyed or significantly damaged. For information, call (314) 615-3600.
“There is an estimate that 67% of the people who are in this area that were affected by the tornado ended up with no insurance or being underinsured,” McMillan said in a KSDK interview.
“That means they lost everything. So many homes were condemned.”
Families are staying in at least seven hotels throughout the city and county, including the Residence Inn St. Louis Downtown. The Urban League is working with hotel chains, including Marriott, to secure discounted rates as rooms fill up with other guests during a busy convention season.
The organization’s staff is also partnering with the Red Cross to help families transition into more permanent housing. Some are being connected with landlords, while others are exploring options through government programs and local housing assistance.
McMillan said the Urban League is putting together a long-term plan that is beginning with finding the unhoused proper shelter.
“We are doing many things to help people through this enormous crisis, one that we have never experienced before,” he said.
Monetary donations are still needed, as well as volunteers, according to McMillan.
“We have been the recipient of much generosity. We still need those donations. You can make a donation of any size at www.ulstl.com and we will get those resources right back into the community.”
The organization is also accepting donations of food, water, and other supplies from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at the Urban League headquarters.
The Urban League is requesting the following items for their ongoing relief efforts:
Tarps – tarps are a major need and in high demand, the larger the better; Caulk (exterior); Caulk guns; 5-gallon buckets; Hand Saws; Hammers; Nails, particularly roofing nails; Impact Drivers & Drills; Staple Guns & Staples; Work gloves; Protective eyewear; Hard hats; Duct Tape
Food/Beverage (Canned products with pop tops only please)
Canned fruits, vegetables, chicken, tuna, and soups; Rice; Cereal; Oatmeal; Applesauce; Crackers; Instant mashed potatoes; Trail mix; Bread; Peanut butter; Jelly; Packaged snacks; Fruit
General Supplies; Bottled water; Batteries; Flashlights; LED lanterns; Trash bags; Extension cords; Personal power banks/portable phone chargers; Surge protectors
Infant & Hygiene Products
Infant formula; Diapers; Baby wipes; Toothbrushes; Toothpaste; Soap/body wash; Shampoo & conditioner; Deodorant; Menstrual products
“The UL is incredibly grateful to the entire St. Louis region for the overwhelming amount of support that we have received in the past four weeks since the tragic tornado,” said McMillan.
“We started with the funding for two weeks, but because of the generosity of the St. Louis community, we were able to extend it.
“This is what community looks like. We will continue our efforts in the immediate future and for years to come to rebuild St. Louis.”