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Disaster Donations become part of emergency plan in El Paso and Teller Counties

El Paso and Teller county Emergency Relief Funds
Posted at 7:15 PM, Jul 08, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-08 21:51:10-04

EL PASO COUNTY — There is a new kind of emergency relief fund launching in El Paso and Teller counties. The goal is a better way to make donations and get the relief to victims of disaster sooner.

Leaders at Pikes Peak Community Foundation, Pikes Peak United Way, and the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management now have an agreement to work together when a disaster declaration is made. “We are organizations that are extremely skilled at vetting other direct service organizations that are going to put this money into the right hands," said Pike Peak United Way Spokesperson, Annie Snead. The collaboration will guide people who want to help with donations during the disaster and with the recovery

The plan came together by drawing on what happened after recent natural disasters like the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest wildfires. Recovery efforts came together after the disasters. This new plan puts in place a protocol before disaster hits.

The relief fund is now included on the Pikes Peak Community Foundation website. Go to ppcf.org/relief It is a permanent link that will be even more important when a disaster declaration happens.