In the wake of Friday’s devastating storms, United Way Ottawa is working with the Canadian Red Cross and other partners to address immediate and long-term needs.
Over the weekend, United Way Ottawa was in close contact with frontline agencies, City of Ottawa officials and partners to determine which areas of the city were hardest hit by the storm and what their needs were as a result of the destruction. With this information in mind, United Way Ottawa will work with its partners, The Salvation Army, the Ottawa Food Bank, the City of Ottawa, the Ottawa Community Foundation, the Ottawa Senators Foundation, Ottawa Community Housing and the Ottawa Community Housing Foundation, the Champlain Community Support Network, and other regional United Ways to ensure funds are invested where they are needed most and where they will have the greatest impact.
“We are bringing key organizations together and investing to support our community in this time of great need,” said Michael Allen, President and CEO of United Way Ottawa.
“It is United Way Ottawa’s role to aid in the ongoing support of our community, and to ensure that vulnerable populations are not overlooked as we rebuild and recover from this natural disaster.”
United Way Ottawa will invest an initial $20,000 into the Ottawa Food Bank, plus $5,000 in grocery gift cards donated by Canadian food retailer Metro Inc. to address food security issues. United Way Ottawa is committed to working together as a community after events like Friday’s storm, and we encourage others to join this collaboration. Additional donations to support this effort can be made at www.afterthestorm.ca.
Before the storm and after the rebuild, United Way Ottawa stays in the community 365 days a year to help the city’s most vulnerable. In the coming days, United Way Ottawa will collaborate with experts, service providers and other funding partners. These parties will look at coordinating their investments and resources to address the urgent needs and long term recovery. These needs will include:
- Ensuring that food banks in the local areas affected by the storm are restocked
- Providing counselling and information supports for residents where the storm caused the most damage
- Reaching out and offering supports to vulnerable seniors, who may be more isolated because of the storm
“Our first priority over the coming days is to replenish the 11 food banks that lost power over the weekend and, as a result, lost all of their perishable food."
“These food banks serve over 7000 people on a regular basis, plus all the individuals and families who lost their food as a result of the power outage. This donation from United Way will be a huge help in rebuilding our stock, and reaching families who were hit hardest by the storm this past weekend.”
“The Canadian Red Cross has been on the ground responding to the needs of the community since the tornadoes hit. Thanks to the generosity of Canadians, money raised will help meet the needs of people affected in the coming days and weeks as recovery efforts unfold. The Red Cross will work with government officials, the United Way and other community partners to help residents recover and move on."
“The Red Cross and United Way will work to bring community organizations together to discuss community needs and distribution of resources.”
United Way Ottawa invests resources where they are needed most and will have the greatest impact. Through research, evaluation and partnerships with community experts we identify the root causes of the biggest social challenges facing our community and help find solutions that change tens of thousands of lives for the better. One hundred percent of donations to United Way Ottawa stay in Ottawa to help those most in need.
