| UNITED
WAY, COUNTY ANNOUNCE JOINT KATRINA RELIEF EFFORT
Volunteers
sought for Red Cross training;
Call United Way's Hudson Valley 2-1-1Service or InfoRock at 845-364-2020
to help
Nyack,
New York – Naomi L. Adler, President and CEO of United
Way of Rockland County and County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, today
launched a joint relief effort in Rockland County for refugees from
the Gulf States devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
United Way's Rockland County Chapter will join forces with Vanderhoef's
newly appointed Hurricane Relief Task Force, made up of County Department
heads from Social Services, Emergency Services, Community Development,
Mental Health and the Department of Health, to organize housing, collection
of goods and volunteer services that may be needed if some of those
left homeless by the natural disaster are evacuated to Rockland. Vanderhoef's
Community Relations Coordinator, David Farrison, will lead the Task
Force.
"Living with the aftermath of 9/11 has made us realize that the
only way to deal with disaster is to always be prepared," Vanderhoef
said. "Teaming up with United Way, as we did four years ago, will
help us be ready for whatever we need to do to help the victims of this
terrible disaster."
Although the Federal Emergency Management Agency and State Emergency
Management Organization today placed a temporary hold on evacuee placement,
Vanderhoef said the County Task Force has already identified interim
long-and short-term housing for those who might be sent to Rockland.
In order to prepare for the possible arrival of evacuees from the Gulf
States, 200 volunteers are being sought to participate in disaster training
sponsored by the Red Cross. A list has also been started of people that
are willing to donate cash, goods, services, temporary housing and their
time to help those left homeless by the Hurricane. Those who wish to
help may call the County's InfoRock referral service at 845-364-2020
or 2-1-1 Service for more information.
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United Way of Rockland
County, Inc. provides programs that touch more than 100,000 Rockland
residents every year. In 2005, the United Way of Rockland County raised
$937,000 to assist in funding 28 programs with 23 non-profit human service
agencies and an additional $500,000 in gifts in kind. United Way of
Rockland County's focus is to make the community a better place to live
by assisting seniors, caring for children and youth, strengthening families,
assisting people in crisis, increasing self-sufficiency for people with
disabilities, and promoting health and healing. This was accomplished
through the United Way fundraising efforts --- a campaign spearheaded
by the county's top corporate, retail and agency donors and their employees.
Our mission is to effectively mobilize the caring
power of our community to help people improve their lives.
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