As of 3 p.m. Thursday, March 28, some 2,501 donors have given $1,027,216 to the United Way’s Indian Lake Tornado Relief Fund. In addition, United Way provided $100,000 to be used in a first phase of funding for agencies directly involved in providing immediate response, taking the fund to $1,127,216.
A breakdown of the how nearly $88,000 of first phase relief funding has been allocated is below.
CLICK HERE here to donate to the fund, see the United Way’s Donor Recognition Board and for other disaster relief information.
USE OF THE FUNDS COLLECTED
PHASE 1 FUNDING
To date, $87,347.16 has been used in the 1st phase of funding for the following purposes:
- Aries Pharmacy – $1,000 to cover cost of prescription medication and copays for victims.
- Liberty Roofing – $30,000 to provide roofing materials and repairs of uninsured victims.
- Logan County Cancer Society – $5,000 to cover cost of lost medication / supplies for cancer patients.
- Mary Rutan Foundation – $9,337.78 – to purchase and deliver generators for use in the immediate aftermath in the Indian Lake region.
- Mary Rutan Foundation – $10,000 to cover cost of prescription medication and copays for victims.
- Peak of Hope Homeless Shelter – $20,000 for temporary hotel stays for medically fragile victims unable to utilize community emergency shelters.
- RTC Services – $5,000 to provide transportation / shuttle service for victims who lost their cars.
- TCN Behavioral Health – $5,000 to cover basic needs for their affected mental health clients.
- United Way – $1,636.16 – to purchase equipment and supplies to set up the two Multi-Agency Resource Centers.
- United Way – $233.81 – to rent and deliver portable storage units to downtown Lakeview.
- United Way – $139.41 – a floodlight for a materials distribution point in downtown Lakeview.
PHASE 2 FUNDING
On Tuesday March 26, the United Way Board of Trustees laid groundwork for the distribution of money given to the Indian Lake Tornado Relief Fund at its monthly meeting last night. A committee comprised of tornado victims from each affected neighborhood, along with representation from Indian Lake schools, the Lakeview and Russells Point business and faith communities, and the United Way Board, will convene next Tuesday to develop the criteria and allocation methods. An announcement about how to apply for assistance will be made at that time.
“We have received an unprecedented level of support for our Indian Lake community in the last week,” said Dave Bezusko, United Way Executive Director. “Consider that this pot of money didn’t even exist one week ago. We’ve brought in as much money in 10 days as we did all of last year.
“The important thing now is to make sure we’re responsible with these unrestricted funds entrusted to us and make sure they are used properly to make the greatest possible impact. It’s for the tornado victims. It’s important that they have a say in how and for what the money is distributed.”