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Photo credit: Matt Udkow, Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
Source: United Way of Santa Barbara County
United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) announced that its Long Term Recovery Committee has selected 16 Santa Barbara County agencies to receive phase one funding from the United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund, a total of $501,000.
The Fund was formed as a strategic partnership between the United Ways of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties to help the region recover from the Thomas Fire and ensuing floods. With this distribution, more than $1 million from the United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund will have gone to Central Coast fire and flood victims since December. In Santa Barbara, a volunteer fund committee featuring representatives from a cross-section of the community selected the 16 agencies for funding. These organizations have been working directly with fire and flood victims and continue to offer assistance and case management. In total, these awarded organizations are assisting over 19,000 survivors and evacuees.
“The last two months have undoubtedly been some of the toughest our community has faced,” said Steve Ortiz, President & CEO, United Way of Santa Barbara County. “Our neighbors have lost so much, and assistance has been pouring in from throughout the country. We’re honored to have the trust of donors and excited to get these funds into the hands of the agencies who are directly helping these individuals and families further their recovery, rebuilding, and healing process.”
100% of every dollar contributed to the United Way Thomas Fire and Flood Fund will be used to fund services that address the needs of the individuals and families affected by the disasters.
Phase one of Santa Barbara County fund distribution is supporting agencies who are currently assisting individuals affected by the recent fire and floods.
Phase two of the distribution will focus on individuals and families directly affected by the disaster and will take place in late spring. The phase two distribution will be carried out in partnership with organizations who provide case management for the individuals impacted by the disasters.
The selected phase one community agencies are providing a variety of services, such as food distribution, shelter and housing, counseling, home rebuilding and repairs, health services, case management, small business support, transportation, child care services, search and rescue efforts, and more to those affected.
Food Distribution
$100,000: Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
Case Management
$100,000: Unity Shoppe
Small Business Support
$75,000: Women’s Economic Ventures
Home Cleanup and Repair
$50,000: Habitat for Humanity
Alternative Care (during school closures)
$24,000: United Boys & Girls Club
Counseling and Family Support Services
$21,491: Family Service Agency
$20,000: Hospice of Santa Barbara
$20,000: Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara
$15,000: CALM
Transportation
$15,000: Easy Lift Transportation
Health Services
$7,500: Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care
$7,945: Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics
Emergency Services
$25,000: American Red Cross
$18,000: National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
$1,781: Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue
$1,000: Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club
For more information about recipient agencies, please visit www.unitedwaysb.org/thomas-recovery.
United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) has the unique and positive vision that “in our community, everyone has a hopeful future.” Since 1923, UWSBC has served Santa Barbara County community through funding, volunteer development, and by utilizing its own unique initiatives that involve dozens of local non-profit and public sector agencies. UWSBC’s local community driven Power of Partnership™ priorities help children, families & seniors with a focus on Education, Income and Health.
