Dear friends and workers,

Will you help us turn $25,000 in derecho disaster relief for Cedar Rapids into $50,000? 

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and the Western States Center just donated $25,000 to the Iowa City Catholic Worker and Advocates for Social Justice to support relief efforts in and around Cedar Rapids.

Our organizations are using the money to:

1) Provide immediate and direct housing/shelter assistance to immigrants and refugees whose apartments, mobile homes, or homes were damaged or destroyed in the super-storm; or who lost wages, income, and food due to storm damages and power outages.

2) Deliver food, water, clothing, medicine, blankets, tents, diapers, hygiene products, and other supplies to people negatively impacted by the derecho.

3) Demand that local, state, and federal officials respond to the needs of workers, tenants, homeowners, and everyday people negatively impacted by the derecho.

We have already begun disbursing the first part of this relief aid in the form of direct "micro-grants" to impacted immigrant and refugee families. 

President Trump left everyday people out to dry when he only approved $45 Million out of a $3.9 Billion request for disaster assistance (1.15%). We pray for additional policy relief that puts workers, tenants, and homeowners first.

Can you help us do what the government won't? Please donate today so we can turn $25,000 into $50,000, model the world we want to see, help as many people as possible, and keep the pressure on public officials to issue a disaster proclamation with a preferential option for the poor. 

All proceeds will go to Iowa City Catholic Worker House and Advocates for Social Justice to support grassroots disaster relief efforts in Eastern Iowa.