Urban League of Northwest Indiana continues to help those in need after summer storm

Many in Northwest Indiana continue to be impacted by August’s powerful storms. Thankfully, there remains a movement by several local entities to help their fellow community members who are still emerging from the worst storm on record that the area has seen in terms of the total number of people impacted and the severity of damage. Urban League of Northwest Indiana is one organization who is working alongside others to maximize its efforts.

“We worked with several organizations in the area back in August and continue to do so today to try to help our neighbors get back to normal,” said Dr. Vanessa Allen-McCloud, president and chief executive officer of Urban League of Northwest Indiana. “Together, as a community, we have been able to make significant strides to recover, but it is still a process.”

With 100 mph winds, the storm tore through the area affecting thousands and leaving many without power for two weeks or more. Between the downed trees, home damage, and flooding that continues to be a hurdle for residents of Northwest Indiana, Allen-McCloud and her team at Urban League of Northwest Indiana are bringing hope, optimism, and energy.

St. Timothy Church in Gary is one of the organizations the Urban League of Northwest Indiana has worked alongside.

“We had diapers, paper towels, toilet paper, cases of water – you name it. We packed all of it up into three semi-trucks and sent it to St. Timothy to be passed out to those in need,” Allen-McCloud said. “Our team partnered with St. Timothy’s volunteer team to distribute the items to those in need in the church’s parking lot. We just filled more trucks this week as well and passed out more supplies at St. Timothy’s to the community.”

Through their work, Urban League of Northwest Indiana has witnessed others helping out as well. Combining their efforts with these entities only compounds the positive effort.

“The YWCA had a holding center for seniors and others in need of shelter and food,” Allen-McCloud said. “There were many other agencies, churches, and non-profits like the Gary Community School Corporation and Christ United Methodist Church that supported and continue to support the community. For example, Christ United Methodist Church provided dry ice for citizens who needed to keep their food and medication cold. Owner of Premier Laundromat, Dave Gramke, who, without his support and leadership, this unique outreach would not have been possible, offered complimentary clothes, dry cleaning, and access to washer and dryers for needy families. Others provided bags of ice, gas, and generators alongside Triumphant Transitions Executive Director LaTrice Edwards.”

The moment, while tragic, is a testimony to the community by showing strength and collaboration. As part of its mission, the Urban League of Northwest Indiana is dedicated to helping the community. They felt an obligation to help advance recovery efforts from the storm.

“We are the area’s premier agency that supports community collaborations in the areas of education, financial stability, health and wellness, advocacy, and leadership. It was a no brainer for my team and I to stand ready to help in this circumstance,” Allen-McCloud said.

Currently, Urban League of Northwest Indiana offices remain a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) site and an Energy Assistance Program (EAP) site. For assistance, Urban League of Northwest Indiana can be reached at (219) 887-9621. Those in need of utility assistance can call (219) 226-3226.

Donations through Urban League of Northwest Indiana can be made via CashApp to $ULNWI or via Zelle at info@ulofnwi.org.

To learn more about the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, you can visit urbanleagueofnwi.org.