Meet Jennie Connor, Executive Director Catawba County United Way

              





Jennie Connor

              Executive Director
              Catawba County
              United Way

Photo: courtesy of www.ccunitedway.com

I was completely amazed with the aggressive way Ms. Connor and the Catawba County United Way (CCUW) are addressing needs.  Not only do they support transitional housing for the homeless, but they support a program at Sipes Home for young adults who are coming out of foster care and continue to need housing and support services.  

They provide financial support through the Salvation Army for emergency shelter, along with help to families in need of assistance for rent and utilities.  These funds are dispersed through a rigorous process requiring each applicant to go through an application for eligibility to receive services.  CCUW also provides funding for victims of domestic violence.  Along with an undisclosed shelter, they provide case management and counseling not only to women and children who have suffered abuse but to the male abusers.

It doesn't stop there.  I asked Ms. Connor what they would do in the case of an earthquake in Catawba County.  Her answer was extremely impressive.  On a quarterly basis the Catawba County United Way convenes a meeting of community leaders, such as the fire departments, emergency management personnel, local American Red Cross and its volunteers, the sheriff’s department, retirees and other business representatives including the local  natural gas company.  This committee is called Citizen Corps (www.ready.gov).  They meet for disaster preparedness.  They talk about who will do what in case of an extreme emergency.  They trade contact information.  Ms. Connor said, "We bring people together to talk about assignments so organizations can be prepared when a disaster occurs." She says that in an emergency there are a lot of "unaffiliated volunteers" who show up willing to help. They even set up mock disasters to train to be prepared for these unaffiliated volunteers in a triage center.  They interview volunteers, document skills and communicate with the disaster responders as to the availability of additional assistance from the influx of volunteers offering help.  It is very important to know the disaster assistance providers and build relationships with them prior to a disaster.    

That's not all....the Citizen Corps committee support the CERT program (Community Emergency Response Teams). This program focuses training for team members to take care of 1) Self, 2) Family, 3) Neighbors.  It's sort of like when you're on a long airplane flight.  The flight attendant shows you how the mask will fall down from the cabin ceiling in front of you in case of low oxygen levels.  You, as a parent, are instructed to put your mask on first, and then take care of your children's masks.  The idea is that if you pass out, you can't help your children.  

Okay, here's the big one.  These types of programs are being supported by United Ways all across the United States.  Every county has a similar strategy.  They are not going to let the horrifying conditions that happened post-hurricane Katrina happen again.  I was officially impressed at the very beginning of the interview, but at this point I am holding back tears.  After researching the recent disasters like hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti, I was wondering what would happen if we had a disaster in our hometown.  Worse yet, what if something happened to my parents who live two hours away?  I am relieved to know that the United Ways are having these important discussions.

Thank you, Ms. Connor and all the United Way staff and volunteers across this great country!