Spring Valley residents praised the approval of FEMA aid for those affected by the Jan. 22 rainstorms, but the community had already stepped up in supporting their neighbors’ recovery efforts. By creating a coalition of local churches, commu¬nity organizations, and residents led by the Spring Valley Community Alliance at Spring Valley Community Church, residents were able to collect and distribute donations for those affected by the storms on Feb. 22.
“Many Spring Valley residents were left with the clothes on their backs and the items they could grab as they attempted to escape the rising waters,” said Chris Pierce, vice president of the Spring Valley Community Alliance in a statement. “There are physical needs that our neighbors have beyond what the County Resource Center set up at the Spring Valley Library could provide.”
While the waters receded quickly from the thousand-year flood, more than 200 Spring Valley homes were left badly impacted. Cars, furniture, appliances, and other essential belongings were left severely damaged or destroyed. The Alliance documented the impact on their website www.thesvca.org.
The donation site located at 3310 Bancroft Drive, in Spring Valley opened Feb. 24. The site’s regular hours will be Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon through April 15.
Organizers are asking for donations of bedding, blankets, towels and washcloths, kitchen items, (new dishes, pots and pans, coffee makers…), personal-care items (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, combs, hairbrushes, shampoo, feminine care products…), baby products, and cleaning supplies For those wanting to donate furniture or appliances, please contact floo-drelief@thesvca.org as the drop off location will not have enough storage to receive these items and they will have to be managed separately.
