UWFK's Hurricane Irma Relief

More than $1 million earmarked for hurricane relief and recovery efforts in Monroe County

Hurricane Irma was truly devastating for many in the Keys and the United Way of the Florida Keys is dedicated to helping our community along the long road to recovery. In the hours just after the storm, recognizing the significance of the storm's destruction on our community, we established the Hurricane Irma Disaster Relief Fund. To date, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of friends and supporters near and far, we have raised over $1 million; all of these funds are earmarked solely for assisting the Keys community recover. Support for this fund has come from around the world, from a displaced Harvey resident giving $5 while still living in a hurricane shelter in Texas to corporate partners investing in the area they serve every day. By giving to UWFK, they know they are donating to an organization fully invested in the local community. Supporters know we are already working with a network of vetted community partners helping individuals and families deal with the storm's aftermath. UWFK is also in a unique position with the incredible support provided by the United Way network, resulting in over $600,000 for recovery work here in the Keys. UWFK has been working tirelessly to not only raise these funds but also to get them quickly back out into the community. Beginning just days after the storm by distributing gift cards and cleaning supplies door-to-door as well as providing immediate funding to our partner agencies, UWFK has continued to serve as a leader in disaster relief. To date, funds have been awarded to 31 local non profits assisting with critical needs such as utilities assistance, replacing damaged child safety items and providing nutritious food to displaced families. UWFK has also begun a direct case management program to fill gaps in assistance from other agencies. Additional funds have been allocated for mid- and long-term recovery efforts.  UWFK's mission to fight for working families in the Keys has become even more critical since Hurricane Irma. We are grateful to the supporters, partners, and volunteers who make our work possible and are committed to the long-term rebuilding of our community. If you would like to donated to our Hurricane Irma Disaster Relief fund, click here .

To highlight one of the 31 agencies we have assisted since Irma...

"The  Florida Keys Children's Shelter  is a proud agency of the  United Way of the Florida Keys . We'd like to say a special thank you to United Way for helping us buy food, baby supplies, hygiene and first aid items, socks, underwater, cleaning supplies, flashlights and batteries. In the days following Hurricane Irma, we brought these in by U-Haul from the mainland and distributed these urgently needed supplies to 170 children (infant-age 17) and 155 adults and families in Key West through our Project Lighthouse program. Big thanks to the United Way of the Florida Keys!"

Through our case management program, UWFK has assisted over 40 local families...

Lee Brown and his family have been out of their home since the storm and living in hotels. They are now in a trailer on their lot in Big Pine while Lee works to bring his home back to livable conditions as quickly as possible. The home has no walls, ceilings, interior doors or fixtures; all have been removed and are in the process of being replaced. Lee says, "Thank you for the Home Depot gift card that will help us in our home repair adventures to come."

Since Irma, Colleen Rothberg and her family have been displaced from their home in Big Pine Key. Colleen's husband works for the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and has always been a supporter of UWFK. Colleen says, "This amazing gift will give us a chance to begin to replace items lost during the storm while we wait for our insurance to sort things out."

Meet the New UWFK Staff

Leah Stockton has taken the role of President and CEO of United Way of the Florida Keys. Stockton replaces Kate Bauer-Jones, who resigned after suffering Hurricane Irma-related damage to her home. Leah has a background in nonprofits and is an established member of the Keys community, having lived in Key West for over a decade. Most recently, she has worked with the Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition for the last seven years serving as both Program Coordinator and Community Liaison.  Stockton said she is "looking forward to the opportunity of working with such a strong local organization as United Way of the Florida Keys." Rebecca Zehr has joined United Way of the Florida Keys as the new Director of Operations. Rebecca completed her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership in 2012, completing the work begun during her 2 years as a traditional student earlier in life, at Goshen College in Indiana. She has filled administrative roles in a wide variety of settings including private higher education, manufacturing, small business and other local non-profits. Zehr and her husband moved to Key West in 2013, after years of Midwest living. She looks forward to working at UWFK and serving the Keys community's working families.

Looking to the Future

Community Impact Grant Applications Available in January

United Way of the Florida Keys' 2018-2019 Community Impact Grant application will be available on KeysUnitedWay.org in mid-January. Notice of the application's availability, as well as community meetings for new grant applicants, will be posted on our web site and Facebook page . United Way’s mission is to support programs that meet a critical need for working families in Monroe County.  To be eligible for a 2018-2019 grant, a Keys non-profit agency must provide an un-duplicated service in one of three community impact areas:   Access to nutritious food for people in critical need; or School aged. early childhood, and after-care support with an educational or positive behavioral component; or Other safety net services, defined as those providing referral and short-term emergency response services within Monroe County. The application process will close on Friday, March 9. Site visits included in the application process will be completed in April and funding decisions will be made in May. If you have further questions about this grant opportunity, please feel free to call Leah Stockton at 305-735-1929.

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