Nearly $19,000 in donations from the Portage County Disaster Relief Fund has been distributed to Windham Township residents whose properties were impacted by the April 17 tornado.
“Portage County neighbors and donors outside the region have been generous in reaching out to support Windham residents who were affected by the storm,” said Ryan Shackelford, director of the Portage County Emergency Management Agency.
Shackelford said nine applicants received a total of $18,751 for repairs and other kinds of assistance that will help them get back on their feet. Receiving much more in requests than donations, Shackelford recognized the efforts of the fund’s Donations Coordinating Team to distribute limited funding to a diverse array of applicants.
The PCDRF was launched only weeks prior to the Windham Township tornado by the Portage Foundation and Portage County EMA to organize how monetary donations for large-scale disasters affecting county residents are effectively received and managed. Under an agreement, the Foundation acts as the hub for monetary donation acceptance, processing of recipient applications and distribution of funds. PCDRF is designed to remain dormant and is activated at the direction of Portage County EMA when the county experiences a natural disaster or human-caused emergency event that merits activation. The Portage Foundation also offers an ongoing Rapid Relief fund to support non-profit organizations in emergency situations or to address emerging crises for area residents.
The PCDRF established a Donations Coordinating Team to review applications and determine the allocation of funds. Windham Township Tornado DCT members were: Windham Township Trustee Rich Gano, Windham Township Fiscal Officer Casey Timmons, PCEMA Director Ryan Shackelford, Portage Foundation Executive Director Janice Simmons-Mortimer, Portage Foundation Board President Kamelia Fisher, the Rev. Greg Coleman of the Life Church and a Windham Township resident, Windham Township resident Todd Phillips and Mandy Minnick, representing social services as well as a Windham Township resident.
“As the community foundation for our area, we appreciated the opportunity to partner with Portage County EMA in creating a tool to help area residents in a time of great need,” said Simmons-Mortimer, who also expressed gratitude towards the Windham Township members of the DCT. “Having voices who truly know and love the community impacted by the storm was crucial to the distribution process.”
Outlined in the relief fund regulations approved by Portage County Commissioners, The Portage Foundation receives five percent for administration of the fund and distributing donations.
