UUA Disaster Relief Fund Update – November 2024

Here’s how we’ve used your disaster relief gifts

I ran across some good news this weekend: As of November 18, Asheville, NC, has clean drinking water again. Tropical Storm Helene passed through Asheville on September 27, so this threshold of normalcy has been a long time coming.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton wreaked havoc on many parts of the South this fall. Those storms hit the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida. UU congregations faced flooded buildings, downed trees, loss of power and water, disruptions to surrounding communities, and damage to the homes and cars of members.

The damage caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton was extensive, but so was the UU outpouring of support in response to these disasters. I am so grateful to all of you who have contributed to the UUA’s Disaster Relief Fund.

Support for the Disaster Relief Fund makes it possible for impacted congregations to recover, reopen, and continue their ministry. Your support makes it possible for congregations to extend help into their communities, where it is needed most. The UUA’s Disaster Relief team evaluates applications as they come in, seeking to meet as much of the present need as possible.

This year, the Disaster Relief team proactively issued a number of mini-grants in areas where there was clear need before grant applications were submitted. They could respond in this way because of existing relationships between the UUA’s regional Congregational Life staff and congregational leaders. Your generosity made this nimble response possible.

• Eleven mini-grants of $3,000 each were given to congregations across Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina for immediate use, primarily to support delivery of bottled water and propane.
• Eight grants totaling $156,500 were awarded to congregations in Bradenton, St. Petersburg, Venice, and Lakeland, FL; Augusta, GA; as well as Asheville, Hendersonville, and Black Mountain, NC.

UU generosity to the Disaster Relief Fund has been an incredible blessing.

It has been inspiring to many of us on the UUA staff to witness, and be part of, this outpouring of support. It has been wonderful to hear about all the great ways people have shown up—from hosting displaced UUs in your homes, sharing needed supplies, sharing online Sunday services and, of course, all the labor of mucking out flooded buildings, clearing debris from roads and parking lots, and so much more.

We also know that more applications are in the works. I look forward to sharing those stories after the holidays.

In my congregation, we sing a doxology every Sunday that will be familiar to many of you: From you I receive, to you I give, together we share, and from this we live. In both the giving and the receiving, there is great love.

May you feel the love of UU community wherever you are.