We recently wrapped up years-long hurricane recovery projects in Florida and Texas!
It’s been a long and bumpy road, but we are so thrilled for our clients, proud of our amazing Disaster Case Managers, and grateful for our partners in disaster recovery.
Facing Disaster Head-On
Hurricanes affect everyone differently. Financial hardship, devastating home damage, loss of power that can put those with medical devices in critical danger…when we work with a community to recover from disaster, our Disaster Case Managers develop individualized disaster recovery plans to meet every client’s specific needs. And if there’s something we can’t fix ourselves, we find someone who can. That’s why nonprofit and community partnerships are essential to doing social good.
And we are so, SO grateful for our nonprofit partners who help us help others. We especially want to thank the American Red Cross, whose generosity of time, talent, and funds helped further our mission of serving vulnerable people in crisis.
Stronger Together
Dedicated to “preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies,” the American Red Cross — like Endeavors — knows the importance of compassion and action. When our teams worked together to respond to the Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma crises in 2017, we were able to make a rapidly tremendous impact, reaching 13,583 households through outreach efforts. And at every step, the American Red Cross was right by our side, ready to provide help and support and to change lives.
Here are four big ways the American Red Cross helped Endeavors help hurricane survivors:
1. Training
In the wake of Harvey, the American Red Cross provided onboarding training for our 200+ Case Managers, familiarizing us with their client data system and financial assistance program that they activated for homeowners affected by Harvey. This training greatly increased our ability to go out into the community and assist those in need quickly and effectively.
2. Financial Relief
As our Case Managers assisted Harvey survivors with long-term recovery, we were able to refer thousands of cases to the American Red Cross for financial assistance. This was huge, since natural disasters can cause financial difficulty for individuals and families of all income levels, but they are especially debilitating for low-income survivors. When an organization can help lessen the burden of replacing lost belongings, re-furnishing homes, or repairing houses, that is hugely impactful.
3. Collaborative Outreach Grant
Nonprofit and disaster recovery grants can be complex, and sometimes they allow the grantee to assist clients who meet specific criteria. The American Red Cross awarded Endeavors a collaborative grant to provide outreach to Harvey survivors who may have been left behind during the initial recovery effort. Through their generosity, we were able to help people in need who might have otherwise not had access to the help and services they needed.
4. Rebuilding Homes
In Florida, Endeavors and the American Red Cross collaborated to organize volunteers and supply donations to rebuild many of the homes damaged by Hurricane Irma. (Learn more about Endeavors Disaster Case Management in Florida.)
We’re not exaggerating when we say that in our nine years of disaster recovery, the American Red Cross has been one of the most generous providers of private recovery dollars that we’ve ever seen. Their financial response to Harvey enabled Endeavors to serve thousands of people in need, and they deserve a tremendous round of applause.
About Endeavors
Endeavors is a longstanding national non-profit that provides an array of programs and services in support of children, families, Veterans, natural disaster victims, and those struggling with mental illness and other disabilities. Endeavors serves vulnerable people in crisis through innovative personalized services and Emergency Services/Disaster Response. For more information on our Disaster Case Management services, please visit endeavors.org.