Greensboro Strong concert raises money for tornado victims

April 27--GREENSBORO -- The tornado that ravaged the east side of the city has given way to a leitmotif.

That theme, "Greensboro Strong," graced a row of T-shirts for sale Thursday night at a concert in LeBauer Park. Like the concert, the T-shirts, at a suggested donation of $25, were a way to raise money to help victims of the April 15 tornado that killed one person and destroyed or damaged more than 1,000 structures in Guilford County.

More than 200 people packed the park for a benefit concert to raise money for the East Greensboro Tornado Relief Fund. The concert was free, but organizers suggested a $10 donation for relief efforts.

Amanda Loflin, who helped organize the fundraiser, said it took six days to arrange the mixture of 10 musical and poetry acts that performed.

"The tornado happened and we had to act fast," said Loflin, who works for Greensboro Downtown Parks. "I think we pulled the concert off well."

Other efforts to help tornado victims Thursday included an announcement by Gov. Roy Cooper that he has asked President Donald Trump for a federal disaster declaration for Guilford and Rockingham counties for the April 15 tornado. The declaration would allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency to offer low-interest loans and grants to homeowners, renters and business owners. The tornado destroyed 36 Guilford County homes and businesses and left another 180 with major damage. Rockingham County had five homes or businesses destroyed and seven with major damage.

Also Thursday, the United Way of Greater Greensboro announced it has directed $64,000 from GSO Tornado Relief donations to the Greensboro Housing Coalition. The money will be used for immediate housing stability and new places to live for people affected by the tornado.

Thursday's concert marked Loflin's first time organizing a relief concert, although she has helped put together other concerts for 15 years. She was hopeful that the benefit would generate enough money to really help the people affected the most.

"Everyone was willing to donate their talent and time for the benefit," she said. "I'm thankful we had people who were ready to help."

Poet Bird Nefertiti jumped at the chance to help raise money.

The Fayetteville native has called Greensboro home since 2011, coming here initially to attend N.C. A&T. She said she was excited to lend her voice and words to the concert.

"The beautiful thing that happened is our community came together at the drop of a hat to help each other out," Nefertiti said.

Help came from all over when people heard about the tornado's devastation.

Wanda White was inside her Browns Summit home looking at the downed power lines and trees on television. The first thing she thought was, "What can I do?"

Immediately, White made an online donation to the Salvation Army to help with the relief efforts. She said she is thankful the tornado missed her community but wants to do more to help those who lost everything. She said she wants to collect food and clothing to donate, and on Thursday, she made another monetary donation at the concert.

"I felt that being here is the least I could do," White said. "People are in need."

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Contact Andre Taylor at 336-373-3465 and follow @andretaylorNR on Twitter.

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