Community Connections Help Family Affected By Hurricane Sandy

Last week marked the one year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, but that doesn’t mean it’s a distant memory for many in Bucks County. The damage caused by the storm was so severe that some are still feeling the effects.

Sharon, a resident of Morrisville, is one of those people. During the storm, a large tree fell on her home and destroyed the back bedroom. It also knocked the home off its foundation, affecting the plumbing. They could still shower at their house, but they had to venture to a nearby Wawa to use the bathroom.

A United Way volunteer saw this damage and contacted Danielle Bush, our Community Impact Assistant. She was in the midst of a project to clean up fallen trees from Sandy. Sharon needed more than just tree removal, however. She needed a new home.

The United Way reached out to its member agencies to see how we could get this family the help they needed. Habitat for Humanity put us in contact with a private foundation that was a good match for Sharon’s needs. We helped her fill out the application, and then there was nothing we could do but wait.

The wait was not the easiest. There was a tarp separating the damaged area from the livable part of the home, but it did not offer much protection. The tree had left holes that allowed pests and bugs to sneak in. The family remained positive and after a few months, the foundation got back to Sharon. They came to inspect the damage, and agreed to help finance a new home for her family.

The new mobile home was delivered a few weeks ago, and will be placed on the foundation soon. Sharon has already begun moving things into their new home, and they are very eager to move in. We couldn’t be happier that this family was able to get the help they needed.

This story is an awesome example of UWBucks’ goal to get people the help they need through community connections. Thanks to one of our volunteers, a partner agency, a private foundation, Sharon and her family no longer have to deal with pests in their home or driving to Wawa to use the bathroom. This is what UWBucks is all about: Uniting people for the greater good and getting families like Sharon’s back on their feet.

To hear more about Sharon’s story, check out the coverage from NBC10 about the effects of Sandy, one year later.

About the Contributor: Katie Pilot is the Marketing Assistant at UWBucks. She is a senior at Villanova University with a major in Communication. Due to her passion for social justice, particularly the importance of education, she is excited to help get the word out about UWBucks’ great contributions to the county in hopes to get more people involved.

UNITED WE FIGHT. UNITED WE WIN.

Join us in changing lives in Bucks County for good by making a donation today. Donations can be made online or by mailing a check to, United Way of Bucks County, 413 Hood Blvd., Fairless Hills, PA 19030.