The Dallas Emergency Assistance Fund will award a grant of approximately $47,900 to Catholic Charities of Dallas for the ongoing support of relief efforts following the October 20, 2019, EF-3 tornado that tore through the city.
In the aftermath of the tornado, Catholic Charities of Dallas paid for hotel stays and personal item gift cards for affected residents. Catholic Charities is still providing ongoing support for tornado relief, including long-term case management, rent and utility assistance, home repairs, rent and application assistance, and other aid. The organization is still handling 96 cases — a total of 388 people — affected by the tornado.
“A major service of Catholic Charities Dallas’ mission is our Disaster Relief program – from Hurricane Harvey to the October Dallas tornadoes to the COVID crisis — we are positioned to meaningfully respond to local disasters. We are the ‘third responders’ who work with victims of catastrophic events for months or longer to reestablish their lives,” Mike Murray, Chief Development Officer, Catholic Charities Dallas. “With the help of this grant, Catholic Charities can continue to be there for all Dallas tornado victims in need.”
The fund committee unanimously supported the decision to disburse the funds to Catholic Charities. The committee’s members are Mayor Eric Johnson, City Manager T.C. Broadnax, Office of Community Care Director Jessica Galleshaw, Dallas Foundation Senior Vice President & Chief Impact Officer Helen Holman, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas CEO Jennifer Sampson, and Hamilton Park community leader Thomas Jefferson. The mayor serves as chair.
“The people of our city demonstrated strength, generosity, and resolve after the incredibly destructive EF-3 tornado ripped through North Dallas in October,” Mayor Johnson said. “We know that we have families that are still dealing with the tornado’s effects even as our city is now focused on our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We haven’t forgotten about them, and we believe this money, combined with Catholic Charities’ expertise in providing assistance, will be a boon to those who remain in need during these challenging times.”
The fund, which was first activated after the tornado and is sponsored by The Dallas Foundation, is now accepting donations for COVID-19 relief efforts. Click here to donate.
And for more information on COVID-19, visit dallascityhall.com/coronavirus.
[…] First appeared on North Dallas Gazette […]