SINTON, TEXAS - United Way of the Coastal Bend has distributed more than half a million dollars to residents affected by a wildfire and to three nonprofits who aided them.
The fundraising efforts began in March after the fire destroyed several homes and caused other property damage.
Donations to the Fire Disaster Relief Fund reached $402,745 including a dollar-for-dollar match of $200,000 from Steel Dynamics. Donors also contributed about another $100,000 to a Bank of Odem account.
An independent committee of residents and business leaders decided on how all the donations would be allocated based on victims' needs.
On Thursday, Stephanie Jordan, the nonprofit's president/CEO, handed out checks to recipients at the Sinton Chamber of Commerce.
"What our donors did for these families who went through this tragedy is nothing short of amazing," Jordan said. "It was inspiring to witness the generous spirit of so many people that share our desire to uplift others in hard times."
In all, donations helped 26 households including 38 adults and 31 children affected by the fire. The American Red Cross of the Coastal Bend, Habitat for Humanity- Corpus Christi, and Family Counseling Service also received support for aiding victims.
Sinton Mayor Mary Speidel thanked all the donors and noted that the steel mill company's match shows its enduring commitment as a community partner.
"From the generous corporate donations to the heartfelt change donated by students, we are truly grateful," Speidel said. "Hopefully, this will help our neighbors in moving forward to a quick recovery."
Other donations came from AEP Texas, Ambrose Construction, Corpus Christi Association of Realtors, Blanchette, Bull Moose Tube Company, Chemours, Enbridge, EOG Resources, Inc., Gulf Coast Growth Ventures, Harry & Diana W. Hamilton Foundation, Highway Barricades and Services, LLC, Howard Energy Partners, Kleberg Bank, LyondellBasell, Methodist Health Care Ministries, Occidental Chemical Corp., the Port of Corpus Christi, RWE Clean Energy, TXU Energy, Valero Corpus Christi Refineries, and many individuals.
