September 13, 2005

Dear Friends of United Way of the Desert:

We want to add our grateful appreciation to everyone in our community who is helping the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Individuals, companies and groups throughout our community are generously providing much needed financial contributions to various relief organizations, as well as your in-kind donations that are being delivered to the shelters in the effected Gulf States. They need all the help you can give!

LOCAL SUPPORT:
The United Way of the Desert is helping "evacuees" who are arriving in the Coachella Valley. For the most part, these hurricane victims have managed to arrive by car, bus or plane, to stay with family members or friends. FEMA has delayed its decision to open a shelter and transport people to March Air Force Base, or any other location in California. The State and County of Riverside are prepared if FEMA decides to open a shelter.

The United Way of the Desert is in direct contact with several local "evacuees" and their families:

If you have a service or product to offer, please call United Way at 323-2731.

If you have in-kind donations of food (dry or canned), clothing, furniture or household items, please donate them to Martha's Village and Kitchen, 83791 Date Avenue, Indio, or for pickup arrangements call 347-4741, extension 343. Please indicate: "For Local Hurricane Katrina Support".

If you would like to make a cash donation, please send a check to United Way of the Desert, P.O. Box 1990, Palm Springs, CA 92263, and write on the memo line: "For Local Hurricane Katrina Support".

* We have partnered with Catholic Charities for a local case worker for one-on-one support services to identify and meet the needs of each family as they arrive. These needs vary for each family, and have included assistance for rental units, rents and deposits, clothing, food, medical, employment, transportation, help with FEMA and other applications, etc.

* We also are coordinating support from other United Way member agencies, other local non-profits groups, and local businesses and services who have offered their support.

* We are partnered with Martha's Village and Kitchen in Indio for anyone wishing to help our local evacuees with donated food (dry or canned), clothing, furniture or household items. Items to drop off should be earmarked for "For Local Hurricane Katrina Support". The items may be taken to their office at 83791 Date Avenue, Indio. For pickup information, please call 347-4741, extension 343.

NATIONAL:
All evacuees, regardless of where they are located, are being asked to contact FEMA by calling (800) 621-3362. After the call, they will be mailed in about 7 days a FEMA information and application packet to apply for assistance, which could possibly include (not definite) financial and housing support.

RIVERSIDE COUNTY and STATE:
We also have teamed with the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), and the local office of the American Red Cross (ARC), in order to assist with local support services. DPSS offers an array of county services, including mental health, food stamps, etc. The local ARM office is suggesting that local evacuees go to their local office in Palm Desert, and then go to the "One-Stop Center" in Riverside, 6221 Box Springs Blvd, Riverside, CA, to receive an array of relief support services from Red Cross, Riverside County, and State of California.