Flood Relief Funds Raised In Lower Makefield Twp.

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA —While residents in the Maplevale neighborhood await repairs from flash flooding last month, community organizations in the township and neighboring Yardley are raising funds in hopes of providing some relief.

Organizers said a collective goal of $100,000 has been set by St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish, the Yardley-Makefield Lions Club, and the Lower Makefield is a Great Place to Live Facebook Group.

Residents met with Lower Makefield Township officials last week to receive an update on repairs that left some of their homes with flood damage from a July 15 storm and sinkholes near the Delaware River Canal.

The three community groups are collecting monetary donations from the community, and are working collaboratively to distribute the funds and maximize the impact of their combined efforts. The groups seek to relieve financial hardship and the emotional toll from the ordeal, organizers said.

Several households on Maplevale Lane, Meadow Drive, and the nearby area experienced extensive damages —some upwards of $50,000 —including cleanup, restoration, and the loss of appliances, flooring, cars, furniture, driveways, most of which is not covered by insurance.

Costs overall of the flash flooding damage are estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, organizers said.

“We are very appreciative of the efforts and generosity of all of those who have helped raise funds to date and are currently prioritizing needs for efficient fund distribution,” said John Celentano, a Yardley resident who is helping to administrate the St. Ignatius Emergency Fund. “But much need remains to help our neighbors recover from this natural disaster.”

The groups are researching additional sources of funding and services from community partners, including grants from the Christine M. McCaffrey Community Emergency Fund; housing and financial counseling by the Bucks County-based nonprofit Credit Counseling Center; and grants for cleaning supplies from the national Lions Club organization.

“These residents have had their lives upended by this tragic flooding. Cars were covered, multiple feet of water accumulated in homes, backyards, and playsets were washed away, and appliances and personal items destroyed,” said Dan Borstein, president of the Yardley-Makefield Lions Club. “In this true disaster, we hope that we can be resourceful and raise enough money to alleviate some of the burden.”

The groups have set a collective fundraising goal of $100,000.

The Emergency Fund established by St. Ignatius has raised more than $80,000 to date; the Yardley-Makefield Lions Club and the local Facebook group have raised $5,400.

“We hope that because we’ve joined forces and a fundraising goal has been set, it communicates the urgency and importance of the situation,” said Jill Laurinaitis, an administrator of the Lower Makefield is a Great Place to Live Facebook Group. “The neighborhood is not in a flood plain. Many residents didn’t have flood insurance. With 11,000 members, the local FB group has come together so many times to help others in crisis and in need. If our individual members give just a few dollars to the Maplevale Fund, it will have a huge impact collectively.”

To Donate

To make a donation to the Yardley-Makefield Lions/LMIAGPTL Maplevale Fund:

1. Venmo: @YMLions
2. Make an online donation via PayPal: Treasurer@ymlc.org
3. Mail a check: Made out to Yardley-Makefield Lions, P.O. Box 524, Yardley PA 19067

One hundred percent of donations will be distributed to the affected residents. Business donors will be acknowledged on the LMIAGPTL group.

To make a donation to the St. Ignatius Emergency Fund:
1. Mail a check: Made out to St. Ignatius of Antioch Church (with memo for the Emergency Fund), to St. Ignatius of Antioch Church, 999 Reading Avenue, Yardley, PA 19067.
2. Make an online donation via the Parish website www.stignatius.church.

Click on E-Giving/Donate Now and the drop-down menu for the Emergency Fund. All donations to St. Ignatius are tax-deductible.

(Photo Courtesy of Bill Rednor) Flash flooding from a July 15 storm caused damage to homes in Lower Makefield Township.