On Friday night, Aug. 25, Hurricane Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 Storm and brought with it deadly winds and rain to an area of the United States millions call home. Much of the Texas Gulf Coast has been impacted and communities in Louisiana and across the state of Texas are still coping with more days of rain.
The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) has joined with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) on a recovery and relief fund in response to Hurricane Harvey.
Half of all funds raised will go to at-risk populations served by UUSC partners and the other half of the funds will support Unitarian Universalist congregations and members of those congregations most affected by the storm. Those funds will be administered by a group of leaders in the UUA’s Southern Region, which includes the states across the southeast from Texas to South Carolina, and from most of Virginia to Florida.
Using its eye-to-eye partnership model, UUSC will work with and support local grassroots community partners on the ground in Texas serving at-risk populations who may not be able to access relief services and who are traditionally left out of mainstream response efforts. UUSC and their partners will work to bolster locally led relief efforts that are serving immigrant families, in particular young mothers and their children. As the storm passes and recovery begins, UUSC will continue to get updates and work with partners to ensure their needs are met.
Volunteer information:
The Unitarian Universalist College for Social Justice (UUCSJ) has finalized its volunteer interest form to collect information about people interested in helping with the Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. Please note the questions specific to Texas disaster relief.
In partnership with UUSC grassroots partners in Texas, UUCSJ is exploring where and how volunteers can be most useful once the worst flooding has receded. Once the pathways for action become clear, UUs will be able to effectively support the recovery and rebuilding efforts in Texas in the months to come.
Donations to this fund will be much appreciated.
Donate By Mail:
Unitarian Universalist Association
Attn: Gift Processing
24 Farnsworth Street
Boston, MA 02210-1409
(Checks should be made out to the UUA with “Harvey Recovery Fund” on the memo line)
Donate by Phone
888-792-5885