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VENTURA COUNTY, Calif.—Wednesday, February 21, marks exactly eight weeks since flash flooding damaged 400 homes in Ventura County.
Victims of the December storm are now receiving financial assistance thanks to generous donations from the community to the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Storm Fund. This fund was created in response to a lack of FEMA support.
“People just recognize the fact that there are other people out there who are suffering and need support, and that my $20 probably won’t make a huge difference. But you know what? So, if 20 people come together and everyone gives $20, it will grow,” said Ventura County Community Foundation CFO Bonnie Gilles.
Funding from donors across the Central Coast totals $400,000.
City managers in Oxnard, Ventura and Port Hueneme plan to distribute the funds to affected area residents via prepaid debit cards.
“The average person has less than $1,000 saved up for an emergency. And when you think about the scale of this disaster, everything in your house is destroyed, your car is destroyed, your insurance is destroyed. You know, what we’re talking about is actually a lifeline,” Ventura County Community Foundation CEO Vanessa Bechtel said.
Each card carries between $750 and $2,000.
“I wish more could have been done. Frankly, I really wish people could give more and we could all come together. Because when you lose everything, $1,000 is Because it’s a truly meaningful gift. And that alone is not enough to rebuild. And that’s what we really want to help people with right now,” Bechtel said.
For more information on how to apply for financial aid, call Vanessa Bechtel at the Ventura County Community Foundation at (805) 330-6676.
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