Hope After Disaster
By Angie Matthiessen, Executive Director
Hard to believe but hurricane season is upon us once more. As we enter this critical time of year, preparation and community support are key. Now is the perfect time to review emergency plans, stock up on essentials and check in with neighbors, especially those who may need extra help. Every small action adds up to a safer, more resilient community.
While we must look ahead to this hurricane season, my heart breaks for those still recovering from last year’s devastation. The physical damage may fade, but for many families the emotional and financial toll is still very real. We are still receiving calls in our office from families seeking help, proof that the recovery is far from over.
Take, for example, a local family with two infants who were forced to relocate after their home flooded. With one parent unable to work due to business closures and unexpected expenses from replacing vehicles, they faced overwhelming financial strain. Assistance helped cover their first and last month’s rent for a new rental, offering stability as they rebuild their lives. It’s stories like this that remind us recovery isn’t just about rebuilding homes; it’s about rebuilding lives.
When disaster strikes, it doesn’t just damage buildings – it shakes lives, uproots families, and tests the strength of our community. Here in Charlotte County, we’ve seen that reality up close after recent hurricane seasons. But we’ve also seen something just as powerful: the strength of a community that cares.
That’s why United Way Charlotte County (UWCC) is honored to be among the 17 nonprofits recently awarded funding through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund. This grant is designed to bring healing and stability to individuals and families still recovering from the impact of Hurricanes Ian, Debby, Helene, and Milton.
UWCC will use this funding to strengthen our United at Work program, which provides disaster case management and resource navigation to those employed individuals in Charlotte County who are struggling to recover from disaster. Since hurricane Helene, with this funding, has been able to support in total, 189 households, providing $272,520 in direct support through multiple disaster funding sources, with direct assistance for housing, utilities, transportation, and emotional recovery.
United at Work is designed to meet people where they are and walk alongside them on the path to long-term recovery. Whether it’s a roof that needs repair, stabilizing housing after lost wages, or the emotional toll of starting over, this grant allows us to help those impacted in real, tangible ways. This program ensures that hard-working residents, many of whom fall into the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population, don’t have to face recovery alone.
This grant comes at a critical time. As we head into another hurricane season, thousands of residents are still recovering from the last ones. The path forward isn’t just about rebuilding home, it’s about rebuilding lives. Thanks to the generosity of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Patterson Foundation, and countless other donors, we’re about to do that with renewed strength.
We’re not in this alone, and neither are the families we serve. Together, we’re rebuilding hope, one story at a time. If you would like to help, please visit: unitedwayccfl.org/HopeAfterDisaster
For more information about United Way of Charlotte County’s mission: Mobilizing the power of our community to break the cycle of poverty, please contact Angie Matthiessen, Executive Director. She can be reached at director@unitedwayccfl.org.