MAPLETON, Iowa (AP) – More than $374,000 in donations has helped people recover from a tornado that pummeled the western Iowa town of Mapleton.  The Sioux City Journal reports that the money for the Mapleton Tornado Relief Fund came in from all over the nation after the April 9 tornado last year.  The fund awarded more than $239,000 for various projects. More than 100 applications were received.
 
Homeowner Allen Mead, who received one of the grants, says the money “was used to help you get started, or do something with your windows … something like that.”  The remaining money is being turned over to a nonprofit group called Mapleton Build and Recovery and will be available as a source for the local match that many grant programs require.