How to respond to immediate needs

Last week I watched the 1974 film Towering Inferno for a bit of escapism, but I couldn’t help thinking that today we need not produce disaster films…we need only turn on the news. We’ve all been shocked and moved by the images and stories coming out of Japan following this month’s earthquakes, tsunami, and now, nuclear crisis. Americans usually turn their emotional turmoil into good by donating generously to those in need.

The Community Chest of Japan has established a fund, but chaos and difficulty inside of Japan are presenting a challenge to them for setting up a website where people can give direct donations. United Way Worldwide is now accepting contributions at http://liveunited.org/japan for the Community Chest of Japan. We are also happy to assist those who wish to provide support and have difficulty accessing online giving.

Here at home we are wrapping up a long cold winter and the assistance funds are depleted.  Exacerbating the issue is the lack of Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds, which usually are released in December and heavily relied upon by organizations to meet high demand during the first quarter of the year. Along with United Way Worldwide, many local United Ways are stakeholders in the EFSP. In the past eight years, Madison County has received more than $700,000 in funding that has been distributed to a dozen organizations.

Last year, Madison County received $93,846 which provided support to programs at eight organizations: First Friends, Operation Love and Park Place food pantries and Second Harvest for support to all pantries; Alternatives, Christian Center and Stepping Stones shelters and Salvation Army shelter and food assistance. Funding for the current fiscal year has been postponed because Congress failed to pass the annual appropriations bill (Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act) that funds EFSP.

Stakeholders are now waiting for Congress to pass a long term spending measure to cover now through September 30 – the end of the fiscal year. In addition to program funding being delayed there’s a very real probability that EFSP funding will be cut significantly once a spending bill is passed. Currently, the House of Representatives and White House have proposed slashing EFSP funding by half – from $200 million to $100 million. 

The United Way system is mobilizing to advocate for support of this vital funding that provides our most vulnerable citizens with the most basic of needs – food and shelter. Tomorrow, a call in day has been organized and advocates are urged to call their Senator and Representatives to show support for the program. Here’s how: Call the Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121 to be connected to the Senate and/or Representative office and ask to speak with the Homeland Security Legislative Assistant. Let he or she know the importance of the program to our community.  For more tips and talking points, log on to http://capwiz.com/unitedway/callalert/index.tt?alertid=30271506.

Finally, you can help us bridge the gap by making an additional donation to United Way in support of emergency food and shelter, or you can support the current We Can Care Food Drive or the Friend to Friend or United Way Utility Assistance funds.

Nancy Vaughan is president of United Way of Madison County. She can be reached at n.vaughan@unitedwaymadisonco.org.