TEMPLE, Texas — Call center workers are manning the phones throughout the day for the United Way of Central Texas as victims of the May 22 tornado begin to tackle the challenges of recovery.
Workers at the United Way, like call center manager Diamond Martinez, said it's been an incredibly challenging week as they too had power knocked out from their building but continue to assist those without food, power and water.
"We're losing power in our own homes and as soon we have power we jump on," Martinez said.
United Way of Central Texas Vice President of Resource Development Veshell Greene said that her team has been adding community resource details and information into their database, coordinating recovery donation efforts and working to pair victims with resource providers.
"It feels incredible to know that people can come to a trusted source and whether it's for assistance or getting that information out, it's been really nice to be able to connect them," Greene said.
Greene said they encourage resource providers and assistance organizations to call the United Way so they can be entered into the organization's database.
Greene said their organization helps "streamline" the process of getting what's needed into the hands of those who need it most.
"We encourage people who want to donate, whether it's money towards a fan drive or products, we can connect them with agencies that are collecting those items," Green said.
For Martinez, she said without a disaster declaration for Bell County declared by the State as of Wednesday, residents have voiced frustrations as the United Way grapples with continuing to assist.
"It's been hard," Martinez said. "I've been doing this for a long time and this is the first disaster in my own backyard, where I'm helping my own community."
Those looking to offer their services can call the United Way at 211 and be put in their database.
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