Hurricane Response in the Pioneer Valley

The Pioneer Valley has been impacted once again by devastating weather with the arrival of Hurricane Irene.  Individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations have all been impacted by this storm.  As a member and supporter of our community, all of us at the Community Foundation are committed to staying informed and connected with all the responders and resources in our community to gain a better understanding of all the complex needs in this situation. As we learn more, we will identify steps to be taken and help connect donors to those specialized activities.

If you are an individual looking for immediate assistance, please call 211 or visit mass211.org, a United Way referral service which can put you in touch with local resources. 

If you are looking for ways to help others, the following organizations are accepting donations and assisting locally.

• United Way of Franklin County www.uw-fc.org
• The Pioneer Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross www.redcrosscwm.org
• Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) has established the CISA Emergency Farm Fund to provide no-interest loans to farmers. www.buylocalfood.org
• Shelburne Area Business Association established the West County Relief Fund for donations to assist individuals, families and businesses. www.shelburnefalls.com

For information on government resources, you can visit the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency at www.mass.gov/MEMA.

Like all community foundations across the country, we connect donors and critical needs during a time of crisis — and it is a task we take seriously. Our national network of community foundations has also shared with us their experiences with disaster relief and philanthropic responses.