More than three weeks into the recovery effort after the Memorial Day flooding in Hays County, United Way of Hays County continues its support of recovery, directing funds from its 2015 Flood Disaster Recovery Fund to partner agencies and other non-profit organizations proving services to flood survivors, said Michelle Harper, President/CEO.
“Details about applying for these disaster recovery funds are available on our website,” she said.
United Way of Hays County is not providing direct funds or grants to flood survivors, Harper explained. “The funds are being distributed to agencies, organizations and other non-profit groups who have boots on the ground and are most aware of the needs,” she said.
“The board established the fund to provide a transparent, efficient, simple process to direct flood relief donations directly to relief organizations in the current priority needs of temporary (short/mid-term) housing; basic essentials (gas, food, clothing) and long-term recovery/rebuilding,” said Harper.
“Our role is to help coordinate efforts, mobilize our vast network of volunteers, and reach out to our donors for support to be distributed to local organizations providing direct services.”
More than $30,000 raised in the two weeks since the flood was distributed to Southside Community Center, San Marcos; Serve San Marcos, San Marcos; Ministerial Alliance, Martindale/Caldwell County; and The Barnabas Connection and My Neighbor’s Keeper, Wimberley. More funds will be distributed this week.
Residents wishing to help flood victims can visit www.unitedwayhaysco.org/give or text “FLOODS” to 41444 to make a donation. Donors then follow the prompts to make a donation. “One hundred percent of these donations will stay in Hays County, directly assisting flood victims,” Harper explained.
Those wishing to donate by check can do so by sending donations to UWHC, P.O. BOX 1728, San Marcos, TX 78667. Donors are asked to write “Disaster Recovery Fund” on checks to ensure that donation goes directly to agencies and organizations providing services to flood victims.
The United Way of Hays County volunteer board of directors established the 2015 Flood Disaster Recovery Fund on May 25 to benefit partners, agencies and other organizations that are providing direct assistance to flood victims throughout Hays and Caldwell Counties in the wake of the devastating Memorial Day Weekend Flood.
Priorities for immediate disbursal of funds are to fund agencies and organizations who are assisting flood survivors who have immediate housing needs, focusing on survivors with no flood insurance, and initiatives that support the elderly, children, disabled and single household families with basic needs, housing and long term recovery, Harper said.
Working with city, county, state, national, and local long-term recovery efforts, future funds from the United Way of Hays County 2015 Flood Relief Fund will be promptly dispersed and a long-term recovery allocation plan is being developed in collaboration with all stakeholders, board of directors chair Kim Porterfield said.
For more than three decades, volunteer board members, local partner agencies, and donors of the United Way of Hays County have invested and developed programs that address some of Hays County’s critical needs. “We continue to help children graduate, guide families toward financial stability, and create opportunities for people to live healthy, vibrant lives while reducing the demand for social services borne by cities and the county,” Porterfield said.
For more information on United Way of Hays County and its disaster recovery efforts, contact Michelle Harper at 512.353.1420 or michelleharper@centurytel.net.