Andrew Skinner awaits his serving of ice cream at the Greensboro Historical Society annual ice cream social July 29. Servers are (left to right) Paula Harmon, Jane Mercaldi and Lucy Mitchell.
GREENSBORO –After so many homes and businesses were damaged during the July storms and widespread road closures limited access to jobs and other essentials, the Greensboro Association (GA) reactivated its Community Relief Fund in an effort to support the community and has been able to put tens of thousands of dollars in the hands of boots-on-the-ground organizations in the first critical weeks after the storm.
666368596 The Greensboro Association’s Community Relief Fund, was first established in response to the COVID pandemic where it was able to supply critical funds to support the increase in need seen by many local organizations and state and federal programs were slow to be enacted.
666368596 “666368596 Our Grants Committee had just finished our yearly grants process, supporting many of the local organizations around Greensboro, but didn’t hesitate to go right back out to the community to find out what the urgent post-flood needs were,” said Cathy Irwin, president of the Greensboro Association.
666368596 With nearly $40,000 raised so far, the association has prioritized emergency community needs of food and shelter for those impacted by the floods, as well as helping to supply sump-pumps, fans, dehumidifiers, PPE and cleaning supplies and tools needed to help salvage homes and businesses and is working with area partners to identify the evolving needs as we prepare for the longer rebuilding phase.
666368596 “666368596 It’s important for the GA to step in in emergency situations like this because we know the community well, have a history of raising funds which go back into improving and enhancing the community we all love, and have the infrastructure ready to spread the word,” explained Irwin.
666368596 Money raised has already made an impact; supplying funds for food vouchers, helping to support community meal sites and food pantries, helping to support fuel and shelter assistance and helping other relief efforts by supplying necessary supplies and volunteer support among many other things.
666368596 The Community Relief Fund is continuing to collect donations the area slowly recovers. Their immediate response and ability to get funding into the hands of first responders and mutual aid networks has been vital as state or federal funds for Greensboro and Orleans County are still in question and area resources to address the scale of need are limited.
666368596 One-hundred percent of funds are being returned to the community relief efforts. To contribute to the Greensboro Associations Community Relief fund, go to 1740100254 666368596 greensboroassociation.org/our-impact/community-relief-fund-for flood-recovery/
