The Central Susquehanna Disaster Relief Fund, established by Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, announces grant distributions of $110,000 to provide assistance for the region's 2011 flood victims who are still recovering from the disaster.
The Disaster Relief Fund committee, comprised of regional representation, reviewed grant applications and recommended grants to;
- AGAPE of Bloomsburg.
- Central Susquehanna Opportunities Inc., Shamokin.
- Columbia County Redevelopment Authority, Bloomsburg.
- Shickshinny Borough.
- Family Service Association, Luzerne County.
- Union Snyder Community Action Agency, Selinsgrove.
Grant support to these agencies will assist with such needs as temporary housing for residents who are still displaced from their homes, heating assistance, trash removal, cleaning assistance for the elderly and disabled, hot water heaters, stove/ranges, refrigerators and some uncovered costs of reconstruction. Additional grant applications are still pending for the remaining funding. Emergency grants of $2,500 from the fund were made in September to assist with urgent temporary housing needs.
Members of the disaster relief fund committee include: Joy McGinnis, Berwick Area United Way; Terry Specht, City of Sunbury; Mayor Beverly Moore, Shickshinny; Bryan Hagenbuch, Montour County Case manager for Central Susquehanna Opportunities; Diane Lepley, Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare; Gregg Stavinski, Northumberland County Adult Services; Matt Beagle, Columbia County Volunteers for Disaster Relief; and Robin Barbour, Union-Snyder Community Action Agency.
Committee members and other community representatives were asked to provide insight to the unmet needs and issues for flood victims of Snyder, Union, Northumberland, Montour, Columbia and lower Luzerne counties. The committee considered immediate, intermediate and long-term needs when awarding grants. The Central Susquehanna Disaster Relief Funds are being granted to nonprofit organizations assisting flood victims with needs where reimbursement is not available from other resources. The deadline for grant applications was Dec. 31, 2011.
The Central Susquehanna Disaster Relief Fund received more than $130,000 in donations from September to December 2011. The foundation recognizes and appreciates leadership contributions from PPL, Weis Markets, Susquehanna Bank, Mifflinburg Bank & Trust, Dunkin Donuts, Sunbury Motors and generous gifts from more than 300 individuals and businesses.
Northumberland National Bank and First Keystone Community Bank served as donation collection sites. Numerous fundraisers held by businesses and groups contributed to growing the fund. These donations are now providing much needed support for area residents.
In addition to disaster assistance provided by grants from the Central Susquehanna Disaster Relief Fund, Central Susquehanna Community Foundation affiliates - Selinsgrove Area Community Foundation, Sunbury Area Community Foundation and Berwick Health & Wellness Fund - provided grant funding in their communities for disaster related needs, totaling more than $8,000. The Columbia County Volunteer Organization for Disaster Relief (CCVODR) Fund, a component fund of Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, also received approximately $10,000 in donations, and the foundation assisted Rieter Automotive in Bloomsburg in establishing a disaster relief fund for their employees affected by the September flooding.
Central Susquehanna Community Foundation is a nonprofit, public charity which provides grant funding for nonprofit programming and services regionally in Central Pennsylvania. CSCF administers Berwick Health & Wellness Fund, Sunbury Area Community Foundation, Selinsgrove Area Community Foundation as well as 80 other endowments providing perpetual support for charitable needs of the community.
For more information, contact Central Susquehanna Community Foundation at 1-866-454-6692 or visit the website at www.csgiving.org.