The Rural America Foundation
This corporation is organized to provide disaster relief to distressed individuals of emergencies such as flood and hurricane events. This includes raising public awareness of the need, encouraging contributions from the public and working with local officials to channel funding and donations to impacted people and families. Relief includes assisting and educating individuals and officials about resources, processes and actions they can take on their own behalf to recover and restore their way of life, primarily focused on impacted families and communities in Rural America, thereby lessening the reliance on and burdens of government. Currently activities are being conducted under the name “Homeward Bound Coalition”.
Working in concert with the community, the Rural America Foundation (RAF) is operating project Homeward Bound Coalition (HBC) which was formed to deliver donated manufactured homes to uninsured families who lost everything and have been displaced by the 500-year storm of December 2007 in Lewis County, Washington.
Operations
The RAF began operations in mid-January 2008 and is currently operating in four program areas:
- Locating manufactured homes for donation, and pairing with families in need;
- Flood clean-up and preparation of manufactured home lot sites;
- Collecting furnishings and appliances for donated manufactured homes; and
- Providing funding, matching dollars and encouraging donors to "adopt a family" to extend effort and serve more families in need.
The initial coalition partners include:
Lewis County Volunteer Fire District #16, Stillaguamish Native American Tribe and private timber companies of the Washington Forest Protection Association, and a faith based-community in Seattle: the Center for Spiritual Living.
Board members
- Collin King, Chairman
- Brit Poulson, Vice-Chair
- Cindy Mitchell, Treasurer
- Norman McGlashan, Secretary
Further exempt purposes
RAF is a non-profit corporation and tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) public charity that seeks to provide relief to distressed individuals and families that have been impacted by disasters, thereby helping communities to reclaim their lifestyle in Rural America. Project Homeward Bound Coalition HBC seeks to help under-insured families to receive a home or other type of assistance needed to reestablish their home in the flood impacted area of Lewis County, Washington.
State Registration Number: 24681
Secretary of State 1-800-332-4483
Tax Exempt 501(c)(3) public charity
EIN 51-0669928
Funding and time
Grants, cash, in-kind donations and volunteer labor all contribute to the success of RAF activities. Currently the HBC coalition is consuming the bulk of the time and attention.