$51,000+ grant to support homeowners recovering from this summer’s historic flood announced
The Quad Cities Disaster Recovery Fund has grown to $210,000 in total contributions thanks to the generosity of individuals, foundations, and businesses
There are still people who need help recovering from the historic flooding of the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities region this spring. “Recovery doesn’t happen overnight, in a week, or even months, after a disaster like the one we had,” Kelly Thompson, vice president of grantmaking and community initiatives at the Quad Cities Community Foundation said.
Kristi Crafton, executive director at Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities, understands that well. “As we’ve worked with homeowners impacted by the flood, we’re uncovering flood-related issues from years—even decades ago,” she said. “Some people do not have the means to have their homes repaired. They just don’t. We are here now to help address their home repair issues and mitigate future issues as well.”
Now, a grant of $51,405 to Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities from the Quad Cities Disaster Recovery Fund at the Quad Cities Community Foundation will assist homeowners with debris removal, clean-up, deconstruction, and repairs. The grant from the Community Foundation will cover the cost of a project coordinator and project costs for the next 16 weeks.
The board of directors of the Community Foundation, in partnership with the Disaster Ready Quad Cities Long Term Recovery Committee, identified the need for this flood disaster-specific individual assistance. While the historic flooding of the Mississippi River receded more than one month ago, needs are continuing to be identified. The Community Foundation can respond to those needs thanks to the generosity of donors.
As of August 10, 2019, more than $210,000 in total contributions have been collected for the Quad Cities Disaster Recovery Fund.
“Disaster Ready Quad Cities members identified a critical need to help homeowners clean out and repair homes damaged thanks to river flooding, flash flooding, and sewer backup during this spring’s disaster,” said Thompson, a member of the all-volunteer Disaster Ready Quad Cities. “Our partners have identified many homes with unmet needs. Thanks to generous Quad Citizens who have made gifts to the Disaster Recovery Fund, we are going to work to meet those needs.
The solution—to partner with Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities to fill the gap—was a creative solution created by members of Disaster Ready Quad Cities. For Habitat, it is work that goes beyond their typical day-to-day, and one that they are well-positioned to do. The organization already provides deconstruction and repair services, and will now organize and supervise volunteers for cleanout and debris removal as well.
“This will allow a seamless experience for flood-affected homeowners and our incredible Habitat volunteers,” said Crafton. “While the work we are embarking on goes beyond our traditional work, we are proud to work with the Community Foundation and Disaster Ready Quad Cities to come together and help fellow Quad Citizens impacted by the flood. As an organization, we can't both raise money and do the work in times of disaster recovery. Because the Community Foundation stepped up to raise the money, we were able to step up to take on this extra work.”
Supporting disaster recovery efforts is embedded in Habitat for Humanity’s history. In fact, the Quad Cities chapter was started after a volunteer group traveled to Florida in the mid-1970s to help with hurricane recovery efforts.
Habitat for Humanity isn’t the only organization working on this initiative. The United Way of the Quad Cities will help in the promotion and recruitment of volunteers. “This is an incredible partnership between three nonprofits in our community—and Disaster Ready Quad Cities—as we continue to address long-term needs,” Thompson added.
The Quad Cities Community Foundation will continue its partnership with Disaster Ready Quad Cities to identify additional needs in the weeks and months ahead so that every dollar in the Disaster Recovery Fund is granted back out into the community. Of the $210,000 that has been raised for the fund, over $101,000 has been granted out so far. Because there are still unmet needs, donations continue to be accepted online at www.QCCommunityFoundation.org and at the Community Foundation’s office at 852 Middle Road, Suite 100, in Bettendorf.
The Quad Cities Community Foundation is home to nearly 1,000 charitable funds—started by individuals and organizations—that create a financial foundation for nonprofits and support the Quad Cities region today, and far into the future. Disaster Ready Quad Cities is a group of nonprofit, for-profit, and public sector community members working together to ensure community needs are met during recovery efforts in the months ahead.
TO ACCESS DISASTER RECOVERY FUND SUPPORT
Households eligible for support through this must reside in Rock Island or Scott Counties and be affected by the flood of 2019.
To access, support:
Apply online at www.habitatqc.org/flood-assistance
Pick up an application at the Habitat office: 3625 Mississippi Ave., Davenport, IA 52807
Call the office to have an application mailed to you: (563) 359-9066
To volunteer time to flood-recovery efforts supported by this grant, contact Habitat for Humanity at (563) 359-9066 or visit the United Way website at www.unitedwayqc.com and click on “volunteer.” Volunteers will be asked to pick up and remove debris from yards and inside homes, and assist in deep cleaning interior areas of homes. A team of eight volunteers is needed to commit half a day for each project site.