Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Essex County Community Foundation Opens Intake Process For Financial Support From Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund


On Monday, Oct. 1, Essex County Community Foundation announced the application process for funding and services from the Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund for victims of the Sept. 13 Columbia Gas crisis will be open on Wednesday, Oct. 3.

 

The Fund –– established by Governor Charlie Baker, Lawrence Mayor Rivera, and Andover and North Andover Town Managers Andrew Flanagan and Andrew Maylor on Sept. 18 –– was opened with a $10 million contribution from Columbia Gas and fundraising efforts continue by ECCF. Donations raised by ECCF’s Lawrence Emergency Fund are being combined towards this humanitarian relief effort. One hundred percent of these funds, currently over $10.85 million, will support the relief efforts and those who have been directly affected by this tragedy.

 

Beginning Wednesday, Oct. 3, the application process for the Fund’s financial resources will be open and those in the impacted area may apply in three ways, all of which are available in both English and Spanish:

 

  1. Online at www.GLDRF.org (link will be live October 3, this is the fastest and easiest way to apply)
  2. Over the phone by dialing 2-1-1, for those who cannot apply online
  3. In person for anyone in need of assistance at one of three drop-in application centers:
     
    Andover:  Old Town Hall – 20 Main Street, Andover
    Wednesday, Oct. 3 – 12:00noon – 8:00pm
    Thursday, Oct. 4 - 12:00noon – 8:00pm
    Friday, Oct. 5 - 12:00noon – 8:00pm
    Saturday, Oct. 6 - 9:00am – 2:00pm
    Sunday, Oct. 7 - Closed
    Monday, Oct. 8 - Closed
    Tuesday, Oct. 9 - 12:00noon – 8:00pm
    Wednesday, Oct. 10 - 12:00noon – 8:00pm
    Thursday, Oct. 11 - 12:00noon – 8:00pm
    Friday, Oct. 12 - 12:00noon – 8:00pm
    Saturday, Oct. 13 - 9:00am – 2:00pm

    Lawrence: Relief’s In – 1 Market Street, Lawrence (limited parking)
    Wednesday, Oct. 3 - 10:00am – 8:00pm
    Thursday, Oct. 4 - 10:00am – 8:00pm
    Friday, Oct. 5 - 10:00am – 8:00pm
    Saturday, Oct. 6 - 9:00am – 2:00pm
    Sunday, Oct. 7 - Closed
    Monday, Oct. 8 - Closed (Columbus Day)
    Tuesday, Oct. 9 - 10:00am – 8:00pm
    Wednesday, Oct. 10 - 10:00am – 8:00pm
    Thursday, Oct. 11 - 10:00am – 8:00pm
    Friday, Oct. 12 - Closed (prior event at location)
    Saturday, Oct. 13 - 9:00am – 2:00pm

    North Andover: First and Main Plaza – 115 Main Street, North Andover
    Wednesday, Oct. 3 – 12:00noon – 8:00pm
    Thursday, Oct. 4 - 12:00noon – 8:00pm
    Friday, Oct. 5 - 12:00noon – 8:00pm
    Saturday, Oct. 6 - 9:00am – 2:00pm
    Sunday, Oct. 7 - Closed
    Monday, Oct. 8 - Closed
    Tuesday, Oct. 9 - 12:00noon – 8:00pm
    Wednesday, Oct. 10 - 12:00noon – 8:00pm
    Thursday, Oct. 11 - 12:00noon – 8:00pm
    Friday, Oct. 12 - 12:00noon – 8:00pm
    Saturday, Oct. 13 - 9:00am – 2:00pm

Days and hours vary by location.  If visiting a Drop-In Center please bring a proper ID.  Please visit www.eccf.org/GLDisasterReliefFund for hours of operation and ID documents.

 

Regardless of application method (online, 211 or in-person), applicants will be notified within 3-5 business days regarding the status of their application.

 

“Our administration is dedicated to helping residents and businesses return to normalcy as soon as possible in the wake of the tragic gas explosions, and the opening of these drop-in centers is a step in the right direction,” said Governor Baker. “The Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund will aid efforts to help families in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover with access to short-term assistance, housing support, food support and health services during this incredibly difficult time.”

 

Resources from the Fund will support the short and long-term shelter and sustenance needs of the more than 10,000 household units and businesses affected by the 7,500 Columbia Gas meters on the low-pressure lines in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. Thousands of residents and businesses in these communities have been without gas since Sept. 13, when gas fires and explosions from over-pressurized gas lines destroyed homes and neighborhoods.

 

A complete restoration of gas service will be complete by Nov. 19.

 

“Thousands of people and businesses will be without gas service for the foreseeable future,” said Beth Francis, president and CEO of Essex County Community Foundation. “This means they cannot cook meals for their families, warm their homes or establish any sort of normal routine. In some cases, peoples’ livelihoods are at stake. Our priority is to make sure they get the help they need until Columbia Gas processes their claims, gas is restored and people can live safely and comfortably in their homes.”

 

Because the effects of this crisis are complex and unique to each individual, all applicants will be offered additional support services if needed as part of the application process. Case managers will work with individuals, families and businesses to determine wraparound services needed including, but not limited to:

  • housing assistance
  • transportation needs
  • small business loan
  • health care support
  • food security needs

 

These serves will be provided by trusted area nonprofits embedded in these local communities.  “We also understand the sort of aftershock of challenges that a tragedy like this can cause for those directly affected,” said Francis.

 

State and local organizations, nonprofits, ECCF and the Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund advisors have been working around the clock over the last 10 days to design a system of delivery that is efficient, effective and able to support the more than 10,000 households and businesses eligible for these vital financial resources and services.

 

Volunteers are needed to support this application process and the Drop-In locations.  To find out more about volunteer roles needed:


 

For more information about the Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund and the process to apply for financial resources, please visit www.eccf.org/GLDisasterReliefFund.

 

 

About ECCF

 

The mission of Essex County Community Foundation is to strengthen the communities of Essex County. We do this by promoting philanthropy and managing charitable assets, making grants and engaging in strategic community leadership. Since 1998, ECCF and its family of more than 200 charitable funds have granted $60 million to nonprofits, schools and students in Essex County and beyond. Our ultimate goal is to have 34 thriving cities and towns in Essex County and to improve the quality of life for the region’s nearly 800,000 residents. Learn more at eccf.org.

Posted by Bruce Tarr at 4:49 PM