United Way Donations Available To Tornado Victims

March 7, 2016

Escambia County and Gulf Coast citizens worked together to help generate resources for neighbors impacted by the EF3 tornadoes that devastated the area in February.

In order to distribute new in-kind goods donated by our community, the United Way “Store” will open Monday, March 7 – Friday, March 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1301 West Government Street. Names and addresses of assessed victims will be used to grant residents free access to the following items:

  • Vouchers for clothing that can be selected at one of four Goodwill locations in Northwest Florida
  • Vouchers for nonperishable food items and cases of water to be picked up at Manna Food Pantries.
  • Towing vouchers for those with damaged vehicles
  • 100 restaurant gift cards in $25 denominations donated by Jackson Hewitt
  • 15 Whataburger gift cards in $100 increments donated by Whataburger
  • 21 varying gift cards (grocery, retail outlets, home repair box stores) with values form $10 to $50
  • Over 4,500 new toiletry items from feminine products to soap, shampoo, deodorant, etc.
  • Over 500 new paper and plastic goods including paper towels, toilet paper, plastic flatware, etc.
  • Over 200 new cleaning supplies such as detergent, disinfectant wipes, trash bags, etc.
  • Over 500 baby items such as diapers, baby wipes, washcloths, blankets, etc.
  • Over 600 beverages including water, soda, juice, etc.
  • Over 200 other new items including pillows, sheets, etc.

In addition to thousands of in-kind donations, local citizens have generously donated or pledged over $309,000 to support recovery. The first round of a special grant application process has concluded, and United Way of Escambia County Board Members awarded eight local nonprofits funding to help affected citizens in Escambia County. Funding Awards are as follows:

  • The American Red Cross Award= $22,857 to provide individual financial assistance given after the award date to families affected by Century and Pensacola.
  • Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) Award=$28,571 to purchase supplies and materials that will be used by volunteer laborers helping homeowners recover.
  • Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida Award= $24,000 for direct assistance for the client, payable to vendors in the form of payments for past due mortgage, past due rent, first month’s rent, rental deposits, home repairs, hotel/motel, utility services, prescription, food, and counseling services. 30% of the award or $7,200 is to fund part of the cost required to cover additional case management support of survivors.
  • Escambia County Healthy Start Award= $586  is for capacity required in the form of additional staffing needed to disburse in-kind goods (baby supplies) that United Way will provide to Healthy Start for client’s who have assessed damage.
  • Legal Services of North Florida Award= $5,000  for capacity required in the form of legal support being rendered to county residents who need help resolve financial and housing stability issues caused by the tornados.
  • The Salvation Army Award= $928
  • Funding Awarded is for the extended hours needed to feed and shelter residents affected by the tornadoes.
  • United Ministries Award= $9,857  to provide financial assistance with rent, repairs, mortgages and utilities payable directly to the vendor.
  • 211 Northwest Florida Award= $19,286  to provide financial assistance in the form of rental deposits, first month’s rent, utility deposits and insurance deductibles payable directly to the vendor.

The total amount disbursed during the first round is $111,085.71.

The eight local nonprofit organizations selected provide direct aid to the families who were impacted by the North Escambia and Pensacola area tornadoes. Each organization that receives funding will sign a contract stating that they acknowledge their willingness to provide weekly and quarterly reports on how the funds are used.

The application process is split into three separate rounds. United Way hopes to make close to $100,000 of collected funding available for each round. The first round of applications closed March 1 at 5 p.m. The second round applications close on March 6 at 5 p.m., and the deadline for the third round applications is to be determined. Funding not disbursed during these three rounds, or donations that are collected after the third round concludes, will be open for a fourth application at a later time. United Way will announce that date once it is set and will keep the community informed of where and how their donations support local families who most need assistance.

NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.


Comments

2 Responses to “United Way Donations Available To Tornado Victims”

  1. resident on March 7th, 2016 7:26 pm

    Century doesn’t have enough residents for a United Way. United Way and all the other places like it want to make a profit and Century can’t supply enough paying customers for them to even think about putting a store there. Sad to say but true.

  2. Concerned Citizen on March 7th, 2016 9:05 am

    What about the Century residents that don’t have transportation to Pensacola? Why isn’t there a United Way store in Century?

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News