S.A. urged to help emergency funds

Nirenberg, philanthropist Hartman call for donations to assist those in need after storm

Mayor Ron Nirenberg and philanthropist Gordon Hartman urged residents Monday to donate to a pair of emergency funds aimed at providing financial assistance to those hit hard by the winter storm.

Hartman, the founder of Morgan’s Wonderland, launched the Let’s Help SA fund to help needy residents of San Antonio and Bexar County receive food and water, avoid evictions and stay in their homes. The fund also would help the homeless.

Some $1.7 million had been raised as of Monday morning, Hartman said at a news conference, not including $25,000 and $250,000, respectively, from the charitable arms of Wells Fargo and the Spurs. The fund is specifically for three nonprofits: the San Antonio Food Bank, Samministries and Haven for Hope.

Hartman urged those who can give to donate, and the amount will be matched by his family foundation along with the Harvey E. Najim Family Foundation and the Kronkosky Charitable Foundation.

The idea is to try to raise upward of $3.4 million by Sunday to provide immediate assistance.

“The sun is shining, but I can tell you that the hurt is still out there,” Hartman said. “There are people still without water and people who need an incredible amount of help right now.”

Simultaneously, Nirenberg asked for private donations to an existing San Antonio Water System program — dubbed the Community Pipe Repair Fund — to help compensate San Antonians for at least some of the expenses resulting from damage caused by the prolonged freezing weather and ensuing electricity and water outages. The aid would include helping residents cover the cost

of fixing broken water pipes.

Nirenberg floated the idea of such a fund last week. Already, there’s $300,000 worth of donations and pledges for that pot of money.

The program will prioritize emergency pipe repair among other types of repairs that “vulnerable homeowners … simply cannot perform” at the moment, the mayor said.

Over the weekend, the White House declared a major disaster in 77 counties, including Bexar, allowing residents to tap federal emergency funds for costs including temporary housing and home repairs.

But Nirenberg said he didn’t want residents to wait for those federal dollars to kick in — while going without water — to start getting some assistance. Even then, not everyone may be accepted for federal assistance. Households can apply for the SAWS fund regardless of whether they have insurance, but officials are still hammering out details about who is eligible.

“We wanted to get them help now,” Nirenberg said.

The SAWS board of trustees has to approve a measure at its meeting next week authorizing the distribution of funds from the program.

Meanwhile, Bexar County leaders are hunting for county dollars to help households in unincorporated regions as well as in the county’s 26 suburban cities, Commissioners Rebeca Clay-flores and Trish Deberry said Monday.