The Caterpillar Foundation recently announced its plans to donate funds to the Victoria County United Way to help with disaster recovery efforts in post-Harvey Texas.

The money will come in the form of a one- time grant in the amount of $490,000, and will be used to fund long-term housing needs of the county's residents, the Victoria Advocate reported. After the hurricane struck, more than 35,000 households across the county filed insurance claims, and more than 20,000 applied for FEMA assistance, according to the Insurance Council of Texas.

"For the estimated 6,800 Victoria-era families displaced from their homes due to damage by Harvey, this grant will help us continue to provide temporary living assistance and aid in funding the construction of critical, longer-term housing solutions," said president of the area's United Way Board of Directors David Edwards.

The area is close to home for Caterpillar; its Victoria facility opened in 2012, the Victoria Advocate reported.

"Hurricane Harvey was devastating to many of our employees and to our community as a whole," said Art Strother, Caterpillar Victoria facility manager. "We've seen firsthand how the United Way leverages donations to help our community, and we are pleased to partner with them to support local rebuilding efforts and help build a better world."

"We're proud to support the Victoria community as it shifts its focus to rebuilding, helping to place people back on the path to prosperity," said Michele Sullivan, president of the Caterpillar Foundation.

The Caterpillar is no stranger to this United Way chapter: Caterpillar Victoria workers contribute every year via their annual giving campaign, with the Foundation matching their donations dollar for dollar, the Victoria Advocate reported.

"Caterpillar has been an outstanding community partner, with employees turning out in big numbers to donate money, volunteer at community projects, serve on committees and help in every way possible," said Dolly Stokes, executive director of the Victoria County United Way.

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