Dorcas Williams Tornado Damage Fundraiser

On Wednesday, November 10th, 2021, a violent storm unexpectedly hit East Tulsa with an isolated tornado. The storm caused severe damage to Dorcas Williams home that night , tearing the roof off from a large portion of the house, destroying siding, and completely decimating her privacy fence. While we were able to save a lot of the sentimental and ceremonial items in her home, the damage to her furniture, including her bed, is irreparable. We are SO thankful that Dorcas was not harmed, we know there were forces protecting and looking out for her during that dangerous storm. We are also happy to report that her homeowner's insurance will cover a lot of the repairs needed for the structure of the house itself and the furniture that needs to be replaced, however, there is a sizable deductible and some other expenses that have not been covered. Most of Dorcas' regular wardrobe, shoes, linens, basically everything in her bedroom has to be replaced because of contamination by storm debris. The insurance will not cover the expense of replacing the actual value of her mattress set (Dorcas suffers from back problems so she needs a proper supportive mattress, not a budget model that will cause additional stress to her back!), and also will not cover replacing her fence.

 

The insurance deductible alone, which is $2000, is a large and unexpected expense that most folks aren't prepared for, and the additional expenses that pile up with this kind of catastrophic weather event are a significant financial burden, especially right before the holidays as this has been. We expect the expenses of replacing the fence and her clothing, shoes, and other personal items to total an additional $2000, for a total of $4000 not covered by the insurance.

 

Dorcas Williams is a beloved and respected elder in our community, and we are asking everyone to come together, chip in, and help ease this financial burden for her! Dorcas is the Cultural Chair for the Greater Tulsa Area Indian Affairs Commission, serving as a voice for traditional Native people's rights and representation in the City of Tulsa for decades. Aside from her service on the Commission, she has also provided her artistic skill in regalia-making for theater productions, friends, and relatives alike, for many many years. She is also well-known and loved as a singer in the Ponca, Otoe-Missouria, and Iowa Nations (and many others) and has been recognized at every powwow from coast to coast. Most important of all: Dorcas is a mother of 4, grandmother of 15, and great-grandmother of 8!

 

Please consider donating anything you can spare to help this amazing woman! Every little bit helps us reach our goal to help Dorcas restore her house. She deserves the comforts of home that she has worked so many years to earn!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(My name is Nico Albert, partner to Dorcas' youngest son Kyle Kent Williams. I am creating this fundraiser for Dorcas on behalf of her family.)