Alaska News

Still not sure how to help with earthquake recovery? Here’s a one-stop shop.

Disaster relief organizations throughout Southcentral Alaska have teamed up to give people looking for a way to help with the earthquake recovery effort one place where they can do it.

The Alaska Disaster Recovery Fund, as it’s called, has already raised about $260,000 as of Monday to support organizations handling immediate needs brought on by the earthquake, as well as those addressing long-term recovery. The money will be distributed on the basis of need to aid organizations throughout the region, said Nina Kemppel, president of the Alaska Community Foundation, which is managing the fund. About 100 organizations have already noted they have a need, she said.

Kemppel said a core group of funders and aid providers will decide how to allocate the money because, as she put it, “they’re seeing it firsthand on the ground.” They include the Rasmuson Foundation, Red Cross of Alaska, Salvation Army – Alaska Division, Mat-Su Health Foundation, United Way of Anchorage, United Way of Mat-Su, Cook Inlet Housing Authority, the Foraker Group and Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.

“This is a great demonstration of Alaskans doing what they do well, which is supporting our communities,” Kemppel said.

Most of the money raised so far has come from corporate and foundation grants, but individuals are also welcome to donate at alaskacf.org, she said.

Each of the aid providers is also taking donations individually.

Madeline McGee

Madeline McGee is a general assignment reporter for the Daily News.

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