Follow the guidelines below to make sure you are ready for this year’s hurricane season. 

• To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
• Know your surroundings.
• Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone. This will help you know how your property will be affected when storm surge or tidal flooding are forecasted.
• Identify levees and dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.
• Learn community hurricane evacuation routes and how to find higher ground. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate.
• Make a pet plan.

Make plans to secure your property:

• Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
• Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.
• Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
• Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
• Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down.
• Determine how and where to secure your boat.
• Install a generator for emergencies.
• If in a high-rise building, be prepared to take shelter on or below the 10th floor.
• Consider building a safe room.

Flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.  Don’t make any assumptions; be sure to check your policy. 

Other Helpful Resources:

Palm Beach County Hurricane Preparedness 2012

National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Preparedness

Ready.Gov

As the 2011-2012 campaign comes to an end, we would like to highlight these philanthropic companies that have been loyal and generous contributors to the Town of Palm Beach United Way:

• The Breakers Palm Beach – $1,540,000
• Edwards Wildman Palmer – $272,200
• Wells Fargo – $179,898
• Palm Beach Daily News – $163,321
• Northern Trust – $160,157

Join the list of businesses in our community that support the Town of Palm Beach by donating today.

The Relative Caregivers Project is just one program the Town of Palm Beach United Way currently funds at Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County. This project provides legal advice and representation to adult caregivers who are caretakers for relative minor children (grandchildren, nephews, nieces). The services provided are designed to assist with the unique legal problems faced by relative caregivers raising minor children such as temporary legal custody, adoption, guardian advocacy, access to public benefits and health care, housing and children’s educational needs. The following story helps show how Legal Aid Society helped a grandmother taking care of her three grandchildren.

A maternal grandmother came to the Relative Caregivers Project at Legal Aid Society seeking help because she was taking care of her three grandchildren. The mother and three fathers were all incarcerated. The children were 6, 13 and 14. She had no legal authority for school, medical or housing issues.

The grandmother was working the night shift at her job and was leaving the children home alone from 7pm – 3am. The Department of Children and Families came to her and said that she couldn’t leave them alone at night. The grandmother became frightened and quit her job, leaving her with no income. She couldn’t pay her rent and was on the verge of eviction.

We immediately referred her to the housing department at Legal Aid and they helped her to get a 30 day continuance on the eviction. At the same time we referred her to Families First who helped her secure new housing. We then referred her to Family Central for an after-school care scholarship for the 6-year-old child.

At the same time we began to secure her authority by getting her temporary legal custody of the children, so that she would be able to make school, medical and housing decisions. Since she was now stable in housing, child care and legal custody she began working at a local shoe store part time. Because of her hard work, it soon became a full-time position and she was recently promoted to manager.

She is confident that her grandchildren will be well taken care of until their mother is released and able to the join the family. This happy ending would not be possible if not for the help of the Town of Palm Beach United Way as one of our funders.

The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County is committed to providing high-quality civil legal advice, representation and education to the disadvantaged of Palm Beach County so as to protect their personal safety, enhance their opportunities and living conditions and promote self-sufficiency. Our work helps our clients deal with many of life’s most basic needs: a safe home, enough food to eat, a quality education, and protection against exploitation and discrimination.

For more information on Legal Aid Society and other Town of Palm Beach United Way member agencies please visit www.palmbeachunitedway.org.

While traveling this summer, send us a picture of yourself (and family/friends) wearing your LIVE UNITED t-shirt. The person or group of people pictured wearing their shirt(s) the furthest distance from the Town of Palm Beach United Way office (44 Cocoanut Row, M201, Palm Beach, FL) will win an amazing LIVE UNITED prize pack.

Don’t have a LIVE UNITED shirt and want one?   Call us at 561-655-1919 or email Melissa.

Please submit photos with your full name, address, phone number and where you’re pictured to Melissa.  The deadline for photo entries is Friday, August 17, 2012 at 5pm.

When John was 44 years old, his mother passed away. For the most part, he had lived his life with her at his side. He has a brother in Ohio who he rarely hears from, and an uncle in Palm Beach County. John, as a child, went through six brain surgeries due to a physical abnormality in the brain, and surgeries left him mildly developmentally challenged.

John rarely worked because of his physical condition. Doctor’s would advise him to avoid too much exertion. After his mother passed away, he knew that he would have to earn money in order to survive. His social security was not enough to cover his expenses.  He volunteered at a local hospital for three years in order to build a record of good work    performance. Finally, he was hired to work in the hospital’s food service department.  After one year, persistent leg cramps began to make it difficult for him to work every day.   He missed a day here and there and was promptly terminated.

When his inheritance from his mother was gone, he could not pay the modest rent that he   was paying. He was promptly evicted. No family member offered to help. In 2010, John turned to Vicker’s House in West Palm Beach. Seagull Industries was quickly asked to interview John as a homeless, developmentally challenged person.

John was very sad about his homelessness. He had been on the streets for a couple of weeks, had very few possessions, and no clothing to speak of. Seagull went into action quickly, and the results were quick and wonderful. John lives in a Seagull residential program, and loves it. He is no longer alone, and he is now working part-time for Wal-Mart and is doing well. He travels to work with the help of Palm Tran Connection. His finances are well under control between his earnings and his disability check. He is a model citizen, and a true Seagull success story.

John is just one of many who have been served through Seagull Industries. To learn more about Seagull Industries for the Disabled and other Town of Palm Beach United Way partner agencies, visit www.palmbeachunitedway.org.

During the citizen review process, volunteers assess the effectiveness and efficiency of each program that applies for funding. This year, 75 dedicated individuals on eight different teams will participate in the review. For the next three months, they will serve as the eyes and ears of more than 2,000 donors. They will analyze key financial information, visit member agencies, meet with agency staff and board members and make funding recommendations to the Town of Palm Beach United Way Board of Trustees. The volunteers are a diverse group of community representatives with a broad range of expertise and skill. Each team will review between 8 and 19 requests for funding from member agencies.

“The hardest part of serving on the committee,” according to Missy Agnello, Committee Chairman, “is seeing first-hand the needs of the community, and not having enough money to allocate to each agency. Allocating limited dollars is a very rewarding process, but it is also very difficult.”

THANK YOU Allocation Committee! Your knowledge and dedication to this process is invaluable to our community.

Click here to view photos from last week’s orientation meetings.

Each year, Americans answer Dr. King’s question by joining together on MLK Day of Service to give back to their neighbors and communities. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all. He encouraged Americans to live up to their potential, and to fulfill their purpose as citizens of this nation through community service.

Monday will mark the 26th anniversary of the MLK Federal Holiday. It is the perfect time for Americans to answer Dr. King’s challenge to do something for others.  He set big goals and focused relentlessly on results – and so do we. But we need unwavering, dedicated individuals (like you) to take action to address the social challenges facing us today. Are you up for it? We sure are!

So, how will YOU answer Dr. King’s question – What are you doing for others?

Here are a few ways you can serve your community here in Palm Beach County.

• Donate food, clothing and/or furniture to struggling individuals and families.
• Serve a meal at a local soup kitchen.
• Organize a food, clothing or book drive – or collect all 3!
• Become a mentor or tutor.
• Volunteer at a food pantry.
• Gather a group of friends or co-workers and help build a house.
• Read to a class.
• Glean fields of fruits and vegetables to be distributed to locals in need.

The opportunities to serve are endless. If you would like other suggestions, or need information about any of these opportunities, please call us at 561.655.1919 or email us!

THANK YOU for….

• giving HOPE to families that have been struggling to make ends meet.
• helping students GRADUATE.
• increasing FOOD distribution to those in need.
• helping families BREAK THE CYCLE of homelessness.
• mentoring and encouraging our youth to ADVANCE in school.
• providing HEALTH services to the uninsured.

Thank you for your incredible dedication to improving lives throughout Palm Beach County. Words will never be able to adequately express our immense gratitude. For all that you do, THANK YOU!

In 2012, we at the Town of Palm Beach United Way challenge you to make a difference, not just in your own life, but in the lives of those struggling in your community. Set a goal that is not only realistic, but will improve your life as well as those around you.

Here are a few ways you can LIVE UNITED in 2012.

• Spend a buck – Every gift counts! Your contribution with that of others makes a BIG difference! Make a donation and ask a friend or two to do the same. You’ll be amazed how far a little will go.
• Volunteer… at least once – So many of our partner agencies are in constant need of volunteers. You can read to a class, become a tutor, serve a meal at a local soup kitchen, build a house… the possibilities are endless. Let us know if you want to volunteer in 2012.
• Advocate – Passionate about a particular issue? Write a letter to your elected officials letting them know that you want them to take action. It’s easy, fast and effective.
• Buy a little extra – While grocery shopping, grab a few more items to be donated to a local food pantry or given to a food drive in your neighborhood.
• Get social – Social media is a powerful tool! It can do a lot to raise awareness about the issues in our community. Share information about the causes, organizations and issues that matter to you. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
• Meet your neighbors – You may have a neighbor who needs your help, or you might even need theirs someday. Begin building a support network with a simple hello while taking out the trash.
• Take the lead – We know you understand the importance of community involvement, but do your friends? Rally a group of family, friends or coworkers to volunteer or make a donation.
• Do more – Perhaps you already donate, volunteer, advocate, help your neighbors and rally your friends to do the same. GREAT! Thank you! Why not resolve to do a little more in 2012? Just a little more can go a long way.

What resolutions have you made? How will you LIVE UNITED in 2012?

A grandmother who often helped distribute food to those in need, found herself also in need of help. Several months ago, two of her children lost their jobs and were forced to move in with her. The two children came home with their spouses and children. She went from an empty nest, and meeting her daily needs with her small Social Security check, to living in a home with four other adults and five grandchildren. Three of the adults have part-time jobs and only one has a full-time job. Today, they are referred to as the working poor, individuals who are working, but are still unable to meet basic needs.

Seeking assistance from the food pantry was a very difficult decision for this grandmother and her family. They were always able to take care of themselves and help those around them. However, they now found themselves making those difficult decisions so many others are faced with. Should we pay for the electric bill or groceries? While the decision was not easy, the family did visit the pantry.

The partnership between Feeding South Florida and the Town of Palm Beach United Way has brought this family much needed hope in their time of need. With this help, they are now able to provide food for the family, pay their bills and use any remaining money to purchase the few necessities that aren’t always available at a pantry. They are now able to make the most of their resources and can focus on moving their family forward. It is partnerships like this that help create a better community throughout Palm Beach County.

Tough times are certainly upon us, but have not defeated us. Together, with our 47 member agencies, we believe that the Town of Palm Beach United Way can make lasting change in a big way! For more information about Feeding South Florida and our other member agencies, visit www.palmbeachunitedway.org.