When help and hope meet, recovery happens

“How will I ever recover, I lost all I had?”

 “I don’t know what to do next.”

Melissa Jamison hears that question and comment frequently as a member of United Way of Northern California’s disaster recovery team. Melissa returned home to Butte County from the Midwest with a heart to help after the Camp Fire. She is representative of United Way’s staff, whose mission is to be there for the community in times of disaster.

Melissa told the story of young family that lost their home in a recent wildfire. Their lives had been turned upside down; the wondered whether they ever again experience stability? The family received a $500 Emergency Financial Assistance gift card from UWNC within weeks of the loss of their home. That brought hope – help was available and accessible.

After a year of living in a temporary housing situation, the family learned it qualified for permanent housing. This happy moment was quickly overshadowed by the reality that the comfortable furniture and appliances they once owned were destroyed by the fire. That’s when UWNC was able to step in again.

Hope and help met when Melissa and our disaster services team provided this family with basic household items to get them started in their new home and towards recovery. “I was then able to connect them to the Hope Center and get them kitchen supplies and other things they needed.” Melissa recalls with a smile on her face. “I have seen United Way of Northern California over and over, step in and take care of people and get them into a place where they can have the right footing to go forward.”

If you or a loved one experienced 50% or more residential loss due to recent disasters in Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama or Trinity counties, Melissa and our disaster services team would like to help guide you towards available resources in your recovery journey.