Westfield United Fund Answers Red Cross Emergency Appeal
The Westfield United Fund approved an emergency grant of $5,000 to the Raritan Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross at its first trustee meeting this fall. The funds were earmarked for disaster kits and hot meals for disaster victims in the wake of Hurricane Irene. Volunteers from the Red Cross chapter, which is based in Westfield, provided shelter, clean-up kits and hot meals to hundreds of families in Westfield and Cranford who were displaced by power outages and flooding following Hurricane Irene.
“As a longtime resident of Westfield, it is easy to think disasters don’t happen here, but Hurricane Irene and subsequent Tropical Storm Lee proved otherwise,” said Suzanne Lutz, executive director of the Red Cross Raritan Valley Chapter. “This grant allows us to replenish the fund for clean-up kits and meals against future disasters.” The WUF grant will provide $2,000 for hot meals that are prepared and served by Red Cross workers and delivered to shelter sites through their mobile feeding program. An additional $3,000 will be used to purchase clean-up kits for over 100 families, including mops, brooms, and disinfectants and comfort supplies such as toiletries and wash cloths.
“The Westfield United Fund is very fortunate to have funds in reserve to answer just such emergency appeals,” said Linda Maggio, WUF executive director. “Thanks to the generosity of so many Westfielders, we are able to provide assistance when and where it is needed, above and beyond the fund’s regular allocations.” Last year, the Westfield United Fund contributed $35,000 to support the senior citizen transportation and handyman programs provided by the Red Cross, which has been a WUF member agency for over 50 years.
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