Regional Fund Started to Provide Assistance after Disasters

Judy Scarafile

HYANNIS – An effort is being made on Cape Cod to raise money for disaster relief in preparation for hurricane season and other potential disasters.

The Cape Cod and Islands Major Crisis Relief Fund launched last week as part of the non-profit Needy Fund. It’s goal is to fill the gaps in preparing for and responding to disasters, primarily to provide long-term recovery assistance.

“We’re a group that will come in after the one, two or three weeks of crisis of crisis intervention has taken place and we will come in with money, connections and operations,” said Judy Walden Scarafile, the managing director of the Cape and Islands Major Crisis Relief Fund.

The fund will provide financial assistance for food, housing, transportation, medical and mental health services, child care and other services.

Funds will be awarded after 50 or more families or 100 or more individuals are affected by a crisis, a disaster has been declared, hospitalizations are required and Cape evacuation shelters are opened.

Disasters can be natural weather events, man-made events, such as health epidemics, nuclear spills and blackouts, and terrorist attacks.

“We think it is important to be prepared,” Scarafile said. “We are working with agencies, the county, the red cross, FEMA, MEMA and everbody.”

A fundraising goal of $1 million has been set for the current hurricane season. Scarafile said the fund has already received $115,000 from the Seaside Le Mans and the Davenport family.

Donations can be made by check to Major Crisis Relief Fund and mailed to MCRF, P.O. Box 804, Hyannis, MA 02601. They can also be made online at www.majorcrisisrelieffund.org.

The fund had been in development for a few years and was accelerated after Hurricane Sandy hit the Mid-Atlantic.

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter