Disaster Response in 2021

Every year Unite to Light makes a plan that includes providing our solar Luke Lights and Chandler Chargers to people experiencing disasters. We depend on your help and generosity to fund these response and recovery efforts.  And while we have several long time partners (like Direct Relief) we can count on to help with distribution, we never quite know where those disasters will strike or how big the “give” will be. 

​2021 proved to be another tumultuous year with fires, floods, freezes, hurricanes and earthquakes that impacted us close to home and around the globe.  Our supporters, like you, funded thousands of units to help people who had lost everything. Read on to hear about a few of the projects you helped support this year, and also grab your “Stay” or “Go” Checklist so that you’re prepared when a disaster strikes.

HAITI
We have been working with schools in Haiti for almost ten years and our hearts are never far from our friends on this island nation, who just can’t seem to catch a break. Following August’s earthquake and quick following hurricane, you blew us away with your generosity. From all over the country, you united in support for Haiti and together, we raised $25,000. We immediately sent 250 Luke Lights and 350 Chandler Chargers to Direct Relief and WE Villages. Local aid groups reported that our Lights and Chargers were some of the first resources to arrive in the impacted areas.  In the following months, another 1,000 Luke Lights were distributed  to combat ongoing power and energy shortages by Sakala Haiti in the heart of Cité Soleil.

LOUISIANA
In the wake of Hurricane Ida in September, you responded with an outpouring of support for those who lost power in Louisiana. You helped send 100 Chandler Chargers to local community clinics in and around New Orleans so that first responders and staff members could continue to provide life-saving care. Thank you for showing up when others are in need.  Big thanks to our partners at Direct Relief for distributing Chandler Chargers where they were needed most.

TEXAS
In February, our community rallied together to support those affected by the power outages in Texas due to freezing temperatures. Fifty supporters donated a total of $2,827, allowing us to send 300 Luke Lights and 225 Chandler Chargers down south. Some of those units went to people impacted by the immediate disaster and 125 Chargers and 100 Lights went to South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH). With the donation to SARAH we aimed to support people in Texas that are impacted by the tragedy of homelessness every day. Your support allowed us to respond quickly to this emergency situation. You provided light, power, and a little bit of hope for hundreds of individuals and families in Texas.

BE PREPARED
In the event of an emergency, it is crucial to be prepared ahead of time, but thinking ahead about a possible disaster is unnerving, and it can be difficult to know where to start when getting supplies. For some disasters you will need to evacuate with little to no notice, while others can require you and your loved ones to stay put and wait things out. You should be prepared for either eventuality, and have the right supplies ready for each situation. Start building your emergency kit today with our blog post and downloadable checklists as a guide.