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United Way Distributes Money to Sandy-Affected Communities

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region

The United Way of New York City is distributing more than $5 million in aid to communities affected by Superstorm Sandy. Three Hudson Valley counties are receiving some of the money.

The $5.76 million dollars will go to communities in seven states - Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia. The money is from United Way’s National Fund. People from across the country contributed to the fund. A United Way spokeswoman says New York will receive about 51 percent of the money. And within New York, Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester Counties are included. Naomi Adler is the president and CEO of United Way of Westchester and Putnam. She says the money for these counties will go towards capacity building; for example, outfitting locations to better serve those in need of shelter following a disaster.

She says the synagogue will receive $20,000 to add a bathroom with a shower, and a generator. And Putnam’s total for United Way’s distribution is $53,989.  Adler says the money will also be used for replenishing food supplies at pantries in Westchester, where the Sound Shore communities– those along the Long Island Sound – were hard hit, and Adler says the food at nearby pantries was used up soon after the storm.

Westchester is receiving $121,729.

Mimi Vilord is the president and CEO of United Way of Rockland County, which is receiving $74,002. For Rockland, she explains, the needs are different than those of Putnam and Westchester.

She notes there are 25 families unable to live in their homes in Stony Point; three in Piermont.

Asked whether the money is enough, United Way of Westchester and Putnam’s Naomi Adler says:

The deadline for residents in New York’s 13 counties declared disaster areas from the storm to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster assistance, has been extended to March 29.

A United Way spokeswoman says a total of $9.6 million will be distributed in three phases. The $5.76 million is the first phase, and was announced Monday.

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