AARP Donations Used to Help Hurricane Matthew Recovery

RALEIGH -- At a ceremonial presentation made today with state legislators and the United Way, AARP explained how contributions the AARP Foundation collected from members across the country last fall resulted in $200,000 being donated to assist North Carolina families affected by Hurricane Matthew.

Over half of the AARP contributions, $125,000, was distributed to local United Ways in counties affected by the disaster and United Way’s NC 2-1-1. With the support of the AARP membership, United Ways in affected counties were able to react quickly meet the most immediate disaster-related needs in their communities. These United Ways worked with community partners to quickly fill gaps in resources, including providing food, water, towels, washcloths, soap, and shampoo for people staying in shelters; providing cleaning supplies, masks, and gloves to volunteers and homeowners beginning to muck out houses; recruiting and managing volunteers, clothing and cleaning supply donation drives, and food drives; and serving as donation drop-off and coordination sites.

Director of NC Emergency Management Michael Sprayberry spoke about the importance of the AARP contributions. He underscored the need for public-private partnerships when it comes to effective disaster response.

“We are grateful for AARP’s support of our NC neighbors affected by Hurricane Matthew and honored to have them as a partner in United Way’s efforts to respond to the disaster,” said United Way of North Carolina President and CEO Laura Zink Marx. “Thanks to their generosity, United Ways in communities affected by the disaster were able to respond to requests for assistance, such as food, temporary housing assistance and water, in the first weeks after the disaster. This support not only helped individuals and families in these communities get one step closer to recovery, but also provided reassurance that they were not alone.”

United Way’s NC 2-1-1 is a free, confidential information and referral service that connects callers to health and human services and resources in their local community such as food, shelter, energy assistance, housing, parenting resources, healthcare, and substance abuse, as well as specific resources for older adults and for persons with disabilities, dementia and much more. More than 12,000 North Carolinians dialed 2-1-1 to get information on emergency evacuations, shelters, meal sites, water and food distributions, and post disaster clean-up and recovery assistance during and after Hurricane Matthew.

AARP contributions also helped provide critical support to area food banks which had depleted stocks during the storm recovery. With so many people to help feed, area food banks remain depleted even months after the storm. The Food Bank of Albemarle and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC received donations to replenish the food supplies that are critical to their missions.

Other contributions from AARP members were given to Action Pathways in Fayetteville. Among its services, Action Pathways provides food and other assistance to low-income individuals in southeastern North Carolina.

Legal Aid of North Carolina also received AARP donations to help provide free legal help to low-income North Carolinians in civil cases involving basic human needs like safety, shelter, income and more.

Dickerson said, “These recipients are just a few organizations that played instrumental roles in helping people move on with their lives. AARP is all about helping people reach their ‘real possibilities.  Our small support can go a long way when it comes to helping people get their goals and dreams back on track.”

AARP Foundation

AARP Foundation works to ensure that low-income older adults have nutritious food, affordable housing, a steady income and strong and sustaining bonds. We collaborate with individuals and organizations who share our commitment to innovation and our passion for problem solving. Supported by vigorous legal advocacy, we create and advance effective solutions that help struggling older adults transform their lives. AARP Foundation is the affiliated charity of AARP.