By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

The United Way of Livingston County is joining the ranks of all United Ways nationwide in taking cash donations to be filtered to areas of natural disasters currently happening in the United States.

United Way of Livingston County Executive Director Deb Howard said money people donate goes directly to places in Texas reeling after Hurricane Harvey, the expected landfall in Florida of Hurricane Irma and other parts of the nation dealing with tragedy.

“What we’re doing here in Livingston County is we’re taking cash donations and they’ll be sent to the United Ways in the areas hardest hit, and that will include the fires that are going on in Montana. They’ve lost 60,000 acres and it doesn’t look like those fires are going out anytime soon. And some of the fires in California. We will be contacting other United Ways as to what they’re going to do with the funds. This does not count as your United Way donation, because we will not be keeping the funds here – they will be going to other areas in need,” Howard said.

To donate, call the United Way office at 844-5131 or stop by at 210 N. Plum Street in Pontiac.