United Way Activates Long-Term Recovery Plan in Wake of Irene

Recovery fund and personalized services for families facing ongoing hardship MORRISTOWN - As families take stock of damage in the wake of Hurricane Irene, United Way of Northern New Jersey has mobilized in collaboration with community partners to assess and prepare for long-term recovery needs. United Way is working in concert with public and private organizations to ensure that affected individuals and families receive personalized attention to address their long-term recovery needs. Together, United Way and local officials will determine where federal resources end and community supports take over. The Disaster Recovery Fund has been created to assist these long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts in the northern New Jersey region. Some of the area’s hardest-hit communities are served by United Way of Northern New Jersey, which encompasses Morris, North Essex, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties. “Many in our communities have lost so much and we know they will not be made whole overnight,” said United Way of Northern New Jersey CEO John Franklin. “There are always unmet needs that only the local community can address over time. United Way is poised to get families connected with the right supports for individual needs. We will be reaching out through our extensive regional network to see that families facing ongoing hardships are not forgotten weeks and months later.” As a starting place, go to http://nj211.org/hurricane.cfm, an online referral service and warehouse of basic information on everything from proper clean-up procedures and temporary shelter to avenues for emotional support and more. Residents can also dial 2-1-1 24 hours a day, seven days a week for help in finding available assistance services. To donate to the recovery fund, checks can be sent to United Way of Northern New Jersey, P.O. Box 1948, Morristown, N.J. 07962. The memo line should include United Way Disaster Recovery Fund. For more info call Lynn Weckworth at 908-253-6505 or Lynn.Weckworth@UnitedWayNNJ.org.