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(Des Moines, IA) -- The Drake women's basketball team is unofficially tipping off its season this weekend in an exhibition game against Omaha. The proceeds will go to help tornado victims in both Omaha, Nebraska and Greenfield, Iowa. Beneficiaries include the American Red Cross Iowa-Nebraska region and the Greater Greenfield Community Foundation. Jennifer Garside is a resident of Greenfield, and works with the foundation to help the town's relief efforts following May's deadly EF-4 tornado that came through.
"We have tons of new homes that are cropping up all over," Garside says. "So it's great to see that. It kind of gives you hope for the future."
But even with the progress, Garside says there's still years to come. The first few months was just the cleanup process. Now, individual families are trying to figure out how they can rebuild.
"I think people are just really starting to figure out what their needs are," Garside says. "The need is great. We will never be able to fundraise or grant enough to make everybody whole."
She says that's why fundraisers, like the one at Drake this weekend, are important, although five months removed from the storm.
"This is really nice that Drake thought of us and reached out to us," Garside says. "Like, 'hey you haven't been forgotten. We know you have years to come of rebuilding.'"
The foundation was given 100 tickets to distribute to those directly impacted by the tornado. Garside says it's a welcome break from relief efforts because people haven't been able to leave town.
"No one was in a position to even leave Greenfield. You know, the work to be done," Garside says. "This gives people a recreational thing they can go do as a family. And, you know, basketball season is coming soon, so that's a great getaway."
The game is scheduled to tip off at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.