Group partners with MATA to provide aid to flood victims

The Flood Emergency Assistance Team (F.E.A.T.) announced this week that it has opened a new headquarters to manage the organization’s grassroots effort to provide aid to victims of the flood that ravaged parts of Milwaukee and the surrounding suburbs on July 15, 22 and 23.

F.E.A.T. is a community based volunteer, non-governmental organization (NGO) whose mission is to provide relief and resources to flood-stricken residents of the Milwaukee area.

During an information session held on August 18, 2010, at Parklawn Assembly of God Church, F.E.A.T. collected more than 600 damage assessment forms from attendees who suffered losses as a result of the storms. F.E.A.T. volunteers are currently analyzing and sorting that data and will soon begin the process of deploying workers to assist those in need of cleaning, debris removal and other restorative functions.

The headquarters building, located at 2404 W. Clyburn Street , is the home of the Milwaukee Access Telecommunications Authority (MATA), whose mission is to provide access to multimedia technology for the purposes of education and information to Milwaukee and the surrounding suburbs. The collaboration with MATA provides F.E.A.T. with a much needed home base for its outreach efforts.

F.E.A.T. will utilize MATA’s video and broadcast capabilities to chronicle and tell the stories of flood victims and the effort to restore their homes and businesses.

State Representative Polly Williams, one of the founding members of F.E.A.T. said of the partnership, “This is a great location; we are on a bus line making access easy for those seeking help. And through MATA we will establish an historic record of the stories of Milwaukee ’s flood victims. Maybe then we can avoid the repeated problems we have faced relative to flooding in and around the city.”

“MATA Community Media exists to provide a voice for the community. In this case, the voices are clear, flood victims need assistance and we are happy to be able to contribute space to F.E.A.T. to serve those in need,” said Vel Wiley, Executive Director of MATA.

Volunteers with office skills are needed immediately. Interested persons should contact F.E.A.T. at 414-431- 3317. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 10 am until 6:00 pm Saturday 9:00 am until 1:00 pm.

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