Red Cross Sandy Relief Tops $310 Million
The organization's two-year report shows the Red Cross has spent or made commitments to spend more than $310 million, or 99 percent of the $311.5 million donated for its Sandy response and recovery work.
The American Red Cross released a report Oct. 22 on the relief it has provided during the two years following "Superstorm" Sandy, which caused major damage across New York, New Jersey, and other northeastern states. The Red Cross has helped tens of thousands of people recover with financial assistance, housing-related expenses, and grants to nonprofit groups. The report shows that the Red Cross has spent or made commitments to spend more than $310 million, or 99 percent of the $311.5 million donated for its Sandy response and recovery work.
"Our work has been possible because of the compassion and generosity of donors, and we have spent the money people donated for Sandy quickly, carefully and wisely – and in line with the intent of our donors," said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the Red Cross. "And we're still helping, as the Red Cross and other groups we have funded continue to offer a range of recovery services that meet the needs of Sandy survivors."
Almost $92 million in Red Cross grants have aided organizations providing home repairs and rebuilding, mold remediation, financial assistance, food, and mental health counseling, and ARC also has made a multi-year commitment to support community roundtables that will help to ensure that the needs of survivors are met in the future. The Red Cross Move-In Assistance Program has provided more than $32.2 million to more than 5,100 households by late September 2014, mostly in New York and New Jersey, giving financial assistance to the hardest-hit people whose primary homes were destroyed or made uninhabitable and who needed help relocating or rebuilding.
The storm made landfall on Oct. 29, 2012. Since then, 17,000 trained workers from all over the country – 90 percent of them volunteers -- have provided 17.5 million meals and snacks, more than 7 million relief items (such as cold weather items and cleanup supplies), nearly 113,000 health services and emotional support contacts for people "who have been living in very tough conditions," according to ARC, and 74,000 shelter stays. The report and other information on the Red Cross Sandy relief and recovery efforts can be found at www.redcross.org/sandy-response.