How United Ways Support Communities During Disasters
When disaster strikes, United Ways across Florida step in to help communities prepare, respond, and recover. Their support includes:
Coordinating volunteers & donations – recruiting and organizing volunteers, collecting and distributing donations, and managing Volunteer Reception Centers (VRCs).
Providing financial assistance – temporary help with rent, mortgages, utilities, and home repairs.
Standing up MARCs and FRCs – activating Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARCs) and Family Resource Centers (FRCs) to deliver immediate relief and manage disaster funds.
Offering case management – connecting individuals and families with long-term recovery services and resources.
Supporting Long-Term Recovery Groups (LTRGs) – providing coordination, administration, and fiscal agent services.
Coordinating funders’ coalitions – organizing funders to review and process disaster relief applications.
211 – 4 United Way organizations serve as the central hub for 24/7 real-time disaster information and connections to resources by phone, text, and chat, covering roughly half of Florida.
Securing and distributing in-kind resources – mobilizing food, supplies, transportation, hotel stays, and other critical needs before and after storms.