PRESS RELEASE
July 17, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Jack Pflanz
Director, Development & Communications
JackP@UnitedWayMV.org
P: (315) 733-4692 ext. 232
UNITED WAY OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY ANNOUNCES TORNADO UNMET NEEDS FUND TO AID ROME RESIDENTS
UTICA, NY (July 17, 2024) – United Way of the Mohawk Valley Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Susan Litera, announced today that a fund has been created to help unmet needs of victims of the tornado that touched down in Rome, NY on July 16th. Donations to the fund can be made by clicking: https://www.unitedwaymv.org/tornado.
“The City of Rome and the Village of Canastota experienced devastating tornado activity on July 16, 2024, leading to significant damage and loss of life. United Way will be at your side by ensuring our 211-call center that supports Oneida and Madison counties has the latest referrals at their fingertips. That alone will not be enough. We are here to support our partner agencies and our community at large by creating the Unmet Needs Fund. Donations to this fund will directly help families in need during what will undoubtedly be a significant rebuilding period. We are working directly with the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley to ensure every dollar goes directly into the hands of the people in greatest need,” stated Litera.
Donations will directly impact the people who need immediate support and who cannot wait for potential FEMA dollars to ensure they can rebuild and thrive in their communities. Every gift, no matter the size, will make a significant difference in supporting their unmet needs in the interim.
Currently, according to the emergency management departments, cash and gift cards are in greatest need compared to clothing, food, etc.
Additionally, 211 operators are ready and available to take calls to help victims of the tornado with non-emergency needs.
“Calling 211, texting 898-211 or visiting www.211midyork.org can help residents quickly find resources to help deal with any crisis situation caused by today’s tornado. We urge Rome area residents to contact 211 for non-emergency needs, stated Litera.
2-1-1 contact centers are staffed by trained specialists who quickly assess the callers’ needs and refer them to the help they need. 2-1-1 services are free, confidential, and accessible to everyone through multilingual capabilities. Information is also available online through comprehensive regional databases of government and nonprofit services.
Together, we can make a difference. Together, we will LiveUnited.
About the United Way: United Way of the Mohawk Valley is a local, independent non-profit organization funding area programs and services, providing a safety net for our community and addressing crucial community issues in the impact areas of health, education, and income. For more information about United Way, or to donate to the annual campaign, visit www.unitedwaymv.org or call (315) 733-4691.
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