By Kasey Fox, vice president of 211 and community crisis
Kasey reflects on her experience being deployed to help coordinate disaster relief efforts for families affected by the Southern Colorado wildfires this summer.
While in Pueblo, I met Jaimie, a grandmother with full custody of her two grandchildren. She and her grandchildren had recently fled their home following evacuation orders for the Aspen Acres fire. Their home burned after they left. Even though they had temporary shelter, they needed a different option. Jaimie’s 16-year-old grandson has autism, and he was struggling with the overwhelming noise and activity in the community shelter.
A Red Cross worker called me and asked, “Can you help this family?”
Immediately, I jumped into action. I contacted our partners at Airbnb.org to arrange a more private place for the family to stay. I also sat with Jaimie, coordinating with the shelter nurses to ensure her medical prescriptions would still be managed. Within an hour, Jaimie’s voucher was approved. I helped her set up her account. We found a place and even drove over together to ensure she and her grandchildren got settled.
A few days later, I ran into Jaimie and her family at the Disaster Assistance Center. The moment Jaimie saw me, she pulled me into a hug and wouldn’t let go. Through tears, she shared that a family friend had just helped her secure a deposit on a new, permanent apartment. When her Airbnb stay is over, they have a new home to move into.
This is the power of Mile High United Way and our 211 Help Center. We didn’t just find Jaimie a temporary safe place to stay… we gave hope to a family in crisis.
Every day, we connect Coloradans to the resources they need most through 211, such as food, housing and more. Our support has evolved to serving people directly in their communities, especially when disaster strikes.
During this year’s wildfire season, we’re partnering with local, state and federal agencies to help people access the things they need most: a safe place to stay, food, clothing, medications, transportation and more.
Since June 30, we’ve helped more than 500 households, representing more than 1,500 evacuees, access 30 days of safe temporary housing through our partnership with Airbnb.org. We assembled and delivered 500 hygiene kits filled with essential personal care items that provided comfort and support for families. And we connected families to critical resources, including food and transportation, so they can begin the journey to rebuild following this devastating disaster.
At the end of the day, 211 is a lifeline for Colorado, and that lifeline is leaving a massive, unforgettable footprint right now.
Our incredible 211 team stepped up, working extra hours, to answer the call for our neighbors across Colorado, helping them find a safe place to land.
Families are now facing the heartbreaking reality of watching volunteer teams sift through ashes to find their prized possessions, while facing years of transitional housing and rebuilding. The road ahead for these communities is incredibly difficult, and the confusion and anxiety right now are overwhelming.
To my fellow 211 staff members, I am deeply proud to stand alongside each of you in this work. Thank you for your dedication, your heart, and your sacrifice. You are the absolute heartbeat of Colorado right now, stepping up when our community needs us most.
Thank you to our generous donors for supporting this important work and standing by Colorado families.
With deep gratitude,
Kasey Fox
About Kasey Fox
Kasey Fox is an experienced and thoughtful leader, currently serving as Mile High United Way’s vice president of 211 and Community Crisis. In this role, Kasey guides and oversees the growth of Mile High United Way’s 211 Help Center, which serves 30 counties across Colorado.
Originally from Texas, Kasey is an alum of the United States Peace Corps and Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation’s Leadership Fellows program. Kasey is also the chairperson of the statewide network, Colorado’s Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (COVOAD). COVOAD facilitates effective collaboration, coordination, communication, and cooperation among voluntary, nonprofit and faith-based organizations alongside vital government stakeholders to support communities across Colorado before, during and after disasters.
