WEATHERING THE STORM
SERVING WITH
HEART HANDS Neighborhood Resource Centers offer practical, emotional support
I
n the immediate aftermath of the storm, one of the most obvious needs that arose was trying to get important life-safety information, food, water, and access to professional legal and counseling services to residents — all while under widespread loss of electricity, internet, and cellular phone service. With communication grids down, the City developed new ways to reach residents. Staff from the Community Development Department quickly worked to secure tents, tables, generators, staple food, and hotspots; and opened five Neighborhood Resource Centers across the community on Monday, August 17. The resource centers were located at the Ladd Library, Northwest Recreation Center, St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Metro High School, and Taylor Elementary School. Staffed primarily by city employees representing a variety of departments, these centers created hubs of resources fully stocked — ice, food, water — and connections with all the non-profits who had galvanized in response to the storm’s damage. Residents could also pick up a print informational flyer (updated daily) with information on where to find city services, housing assistance, City department phone numbers, the status of debris removal, and more. The flyers were translated into French, Spanish, Swahili, and Kirundi. “The goal of the resource centers was to serve as hubs of easy access to the community,” said Assistant Director of Community Development Bill Micheel. “Not only could people come and hear critical updates on city services, but they also had access to a family of nonprofits working under one umbrella effort in five locations across the community.” Residents could pick up basic supplies, talk with a trained crisis counselor, or speak with a representative from Iowa Legal Aid who was able to help answer questions on insurance or tenant rights issues. Community partners helped staff the centers, open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily. These sites were also coordinated with other food relief efforts, such as Operation BBQ Relief — serving hot lunch and dinner starting the first weekend after the storm — or HACAP’s shelfstable food to help fill pantries. The centers ran with the help of the Parks and Recreation Department, which coordinated the bulk delivery of goods to these sites daily, in addition to bringing back-to-school supplies to these locations to be distributed to families.
It was really inspiring to see neighbors helping neighbors.”
16
OUR CR
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NOVEMBER 2020
