A Benefit to Aid Those Who Might

Otherwise Slip Through The Cracks

CEDAR FALLS, IA (July 7, 2008) The debris piles are disappearing from our city streets, sand bags have been removed, and most business are back up and running.

As the visible reminders of the natural disasters that struck the Cedar Valley in the spring of 2008 slowly fade away, the recovery efforts and impact on those affected are sure to remain in the hearts and minds of many well into the next year. Money raised at this Wednesday's Barmuda Cares event will help to make sure that no one is forgotten or slips through the cracks. Net money raised via ticket sales, donations and the silent auction will go to the LSB Foundation and then donated to the Cedar Valley United Way. The Long Term Disaster Recovery Coalition will review applications and disburse all funds.   

The United Way will be working with many community partners in a multi-step process as follows:  (This process has been used many times across the country)

1)  Make sure people are working through all of the regular avenues of assistance:  Red Cross, FEMA and their insurance

2)  Connect volunteer organizations to those affected to assist with clean up as needed. US Cellular has donated mobile phone service to connect the United Way 24/7 to organizations like Samaritan's Purse, located at Prairie Lakes Church in Cedar Falls and World Hope International, located at Cedar Valley Community. This phone will cover all of Black hawk County. Representatives of 10 different faith-based organizations have ready access to volunteers who spend their lives responding to just this type of disaster.  

"It is pretty amazing.  They all have developed their niche, from cleanup to volunteer management, assessment, case management, reconstruction and more. This was in addition to representatives from 20 local agencies plus FEMA and city & county officials." comments Sheila  Baird, local contact at the Cedar Valley United Way.

3)  The next phase will be the coordination and assessment of all those affected. This includes documentation of what individuals did and did not receive from the abovementioned organizations.  This will be orchestrated through an outside organization affiliated with the National Voluntary Organization Group.  They will arrive when physical cleanup is complete.

The Barmunda Cares Fundraising Event is this Wednesday, July 9, 2008 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Park Place Event Center in Cedar Falls.

Tickets are $75 per person and are available at the following locations: Park Place Event Centre, Old Navy in Crossroads Center and Lincoln Savings Banks (Aplington, Allison, Cedar Falls Downtown, Cedar Falls Industrial Park, Garwin, Greene Lincoln, Hudson, Nashua, Reinbeck, Tama, Waterloo and Waverly - Century 21 LSB Real Estate).

Sponsors include: Barmuda Corporation, Park Place Event Centre, Martin Brothers, Greg & LeaAnn Saul Family Foundation, Creative Video Group, Lincoln Savings Bank, Elk Run Energy Station, and media sponsors: Courier Communications, Cumulus Broadcasting (KCRR 97.7, Q 92.3 & KOEL-AM 950) and KWWL TV.

For more information, contact Lori McConville at (319) 266-9994 or visit Barmuda.com.