Disaster Recovery Fund invests $25,000 in Iowa Legal Aid

Jun 30, 2020

A $25,000 investment has been made from the Disaster Recovery Fund to support Iowa Legal Aid in providing free legal services to vulnerable populations in Greater Des Moines impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will assist Iowa Legal Aid in meeting greater capacity needs, including legal representation of those facing eviction, help-desk support and other initiatives.

This $25,000 investment builds upon an initial investment from the Disaster Recovery Fund made this spring to Iowa Legal Aid’s hotline as the need for assistance related to COVID-19 soared.

At this time, investments from the Disaster Recovery Fund are supporting surges in service and capacity for local nonprofits who are continuing to provide critical safety net services to keep individuals from vulnerable populations in their homes, healthy and safe as well as unmet needs.

To date, the Disaster Recovery Fund has raised $1,046,000 thanks to the generous support of the people, businesses and funders of Greater Des Moines. To give to the Disaster Recovery Fund or learn more visit www.desmoinesfoundation.org/disasterfund.

As supporting the most vulnerable populations is the top priority in this unprecedented time, there is no administrative fee for participating in the fund. The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines is covering the cost of the staff leading and facilitating this effort. In addition, donors making a credit card contribution can increase their gift amount to cover the credit card processing fee. 

The Disaster Recovery Fund extends beyond a single disaster and is a key part of the community’s coordinated disaster response. Preparedness work will be continuous and ongoing. The fund is activated in times of local disaster as informed by local Emergency Management authorities.

The Disaster Recovery Fund Grantmaking Committee works closely and collaboratively with local nonprofits and other emergency management initiatives to understand the critical needs in our community to provide resources where they are most needed and to supplement, not replace, existing resources and services provided by nonprofits and local, state and federal agencies.

The Disaster Recovery Fund was created in recent months as a critical component of the community’s collaborative Disaster Recovery Plan. The Disaster Recovery Coordination Team consists of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, United Way of Central Iowa, Polk County Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross- Central Iowa Chapter, IMPACT, Polk County and Community Family and Youth Services- Polk County.