After the tornado hit northern Colorado on Thursday, May 22, Weld and Larimer County received major disaster declaration status and Disaster Legal Services have been requested.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency predicts we will have about 70 calls, so we still need dozens of volunteers.

Background – When the U.S. President declares a major disaster, FEMA, in cooperation with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, establishes a toll-free number for disaster victims to request legal assistance. Basic funding for the toll-free line comes from FEMA under the authority of Section 415 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 100-707). The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division in turn partners with state bar associations and other legal organizations to recruit volunteer lawyers in affected areas to handle victims’ cases.

Volunteer – You have an opportunity to make a real impact in someone’s life. Please provide contact information along with your areas of practice to ehickey@geromeandhickey.com  Individuals affected by the disaster who may use this service must have a problem related to the disaster, the individual requesting assistance must be lower income, and you, as the volunteer attorney can NOT generate any fee. We will accept calls and find out what type of case each individual has and then refer them to our volunteers.

PLEASE HELP OUT, THESE ARE OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND THEY NEED OUR HELP!!!!

Thank you in advance.  Please feel free to contact me (contact info below) with ANY questions.

Erin E. Hickey, Esq.
550 South Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 401
Lakewood, CO 80226
(303)936-3779 (phone)
(303)936-2701 (fax)

Message from Betty Strobel, President, Weld County Bar Association:

The Weld Food Bank has been depleted due to the emergency assistance it has provided to folks as a result of the recent tornado and related devastation.  The WCBA is sponsoring a drive, right now. Our goal is to raise as much money as possible, as quickly as possible, to enable the Food Bank to continue its work.  Send your donation directly to the Food Bank, 1108 H Street, Greeley, CO  80631. 

Cash is absolutely needed.  For every cash dollar received, the Food Bank can leverage it to be able to distribute $10 worth of food.  That way, they can buy exactly what they need.  (Note: IF anyone writes a check for more than $100, there is an economic development state tax credit available.  IF you wish to take advantage of that, please make check out to: Weld Food Bank/EDEZ and include either your social security number or CO tax ID # on the memo line of check.  EDEZ will send paperwork for a 25% credit on next year’s taxes!)

Some people prefer to purchase the actual food they wish to donate, and that is welcome.  However, to expedite delivery of that food, they ask that people purchase cases of food instead of emptying their shelves.   When the Food Bank receives individual items, they have to go through a somewhat lengthy safety check – expiration dates, labels, dents, bulging cans, and then check against 5 years worth of food recalls!  When they receive a sealed or boxed case of food, they can deliver that food as is because they can be relatively certain where the food has come from.  It greatly expedites the process.

As far as the types of food, there are priority foods (although they will take whatever people wish to donate).  Priority non-perishable foods include canned meats, beef stews and chilis, canned fruits, and peanut butter as well as cereal.  Pastas are especially helpful as well.  They are also continuously in need of snack bars (like granola bars, protein bars, etc.) and canned juices as they are distributing ongoing supplies to tornado recovery teams.

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