The remnants of Hurricane Ida passed over the northeastern United States in early September, 2021, leaving catastrophic damage and flooding in its wake. Since then, the storm has had a profound and lasting impact on the Coatesville community of Pennsylvania.
With a focus on recovery, The Alliance for Health Equity has used a targeted approach in assisting over 165 families affected by Hurricane Ida — but we still need your help. Let’s take a look at where we stand today, how we are supporting the community, and what else is needed in order to move forward.
We Can Make A Difference
In partnership, The Alliance for Health Equity, Brandywine Valley Active Aging, and local city and faith-based leaders have created the Red Umbrella Response Fund to address the long-term and short-term needs of our community as a result of this devastating natural disaster. We have worked tirelessly to secure safe, immediate housing, and to meet urgent basic needs of area residents affected by the flood waters left behind from Hurricane Ida.
It Takes A Community
At this moment, more than 60 permanently displaced households from Coatesville and Modena are still living temporarily in hotels. Thankfully, community volunteers are stepping up to help with the aid of the Red Umbrella Response Fund. We have connected families with FEMA services through targeted case management and have assisted with completing disaster relief applications and forms. We’ve also worked with churches and local city government to additionally help support families.
Here are just a few examples of our efforts:
- Coordinated temporary housing and case management efforts for 211 families still displaced
- Assisted 165 families with clean out and utility reconnection
- Assisted 10 families with obtaining storage units and moving expenses
- Helped families navigate landlord challenges
- Connected families with agencies for additional support and housing locator services
- Distributed approximately 75 gift cards (Giant, Walmart, Target, Wawa, and Visa) to serve families that exhausted their savings to purchase basic needs
- Assisted Chester County Emergency Services with follow up on crisis cleanup requests
- Provided full school backpacks to Tabernacle Church in support of flood victim students who lost school supplies
We would like to include a special shout out to the amazing Westtown School and Villanova student volunteers for helping to clean out basements, load dump trucks, and paint at New Life Christian Fellowship.
Help Is Still Needed
Thanks to generous contributions, we have raised and matched over $165,000 for Hurricane relief through the Red Umbrella Response Fund to date. These funds are vital for our mission, and community needs have only increased as time has passed. To donate to the Red Umbrella Response Fund or learn more, click here.
The Alliance for Health Equity is a philanthropic organization striving to advance a more equitable, resilient and healthy community for all residents of the Greater Coatesville area. We pursue our mission by providing grants and scholarships to local nonprofits and students that address health and economic disparities and social justice. We also build partnership programs and give voice to those often left out of community solution building to improve the overall health of their communities. 100% of contributions go directly to those in need.