United Way of the Quad Cities Area and the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend each received $25,000 from the 2008 Iowa Disaster Collaborative, formed by Governor Chet Culver to support flood relief and recovery efforts across the state of Iowa. United Way and the Community Foundation were among 17-community based organizations in Eastern Iowa to receive assistance from the 2008 Iowa Disaster Fund at a press conference yesterday.

“We are grateful to receive this money to help people that have been affected by the flooding in our area of the state,” stated Scott Crane, United Way of the Quad Cities Area president. “We recognize that there will be a need well into the future for assistance. Our United Way is committed to be there to help meet those needs.”

“The generous donation we received from the Collaborative has been added to the Community Foundation’s 2008 Flood Relief and Recovery Fund,” said Susan Skora, Foundation president/CEO. “Grants from this fund will be made directly to nonprofit organizations providing assistance to victims and to agencies affected by the flooding disaster. The Community Foundation will work through local volunteer boards to maximize relief efforts and to direct financial aid where it is needed most.”

Last week, the Community Foundation initiated a challenge to the community. The first $10,000 in donations to its 2008 Flood Relief and Recovery Fund would be matched with $10,000 from the Foundation’s Emergency Relief Fund. Skora reports the challenge has been met thanks to the extraordinary response from individuals and organizations wanting to lend a helping hand. Donations to the Flood Relief and Recovery fund can be made online, www.cfgrb.org, or by calling 563-326-2840.

United Way of the Quad Cities Area is helping with the long term clean up and recovery efforts across the two-state area. Volunteers can register at www.unitedwayqc.org to be matched with opportunities as they become available. In addition, there is money available to help agencies with funding shortfalls due to the flooding through Emergency Grants available from United Way’s Community Partnership Grant Fund. Individuals in need of assistance can call United Way’s InfoLINK, where information specialists are on hand to help people find the appropriate community resources to meet their needs. United Way’s InfoLINK can be reached simply by dialing 2-1-1 in Iowa or 563.355.9900 from Illinois.