Global Empowerment Mission, Rotary help thousands of Tulare flood victims

Global Empowerment Mission and Rotary District 5230 partnered to distribute more than 4,000 emergency relief boxes for victims of the recent floods.

Hundreds of cars wrapped around the Lindsay-Strathmore Memorial building a few hours before the distribution began – a sign of the struggle the community is experiencing.

As families sat waiting, local business owner Amanda Yan got to work.

Rotary District 5230 and Global Empowerment Mission partnered together, donating and distributing over 4,000 emergency relief boxes for victims of the recent floods.
Rotary District 5230 and Global Empowerment Mission partnered together, donating and distributing over 4,000 emergency relief boxes for victims of the recent floods.

“I was honored to be able to hand out donut holes to everyone who has been waiting,” she said. Yan owns Hergesheimer's Donut Factory in Porterville and wanted to find a creative way to give back to the community.

She volunteered her time over the two days, handing out donuts and relief boxes, as did a handful of Rotary District 5230 members – like Art and Barbara Gaffrey.

Rotary District 5230 has clubs all throughout Central California, including Visalia, Monterey, Salinas, Corcoran and Fresno. The retired couple is a part of Potterville's Breakfast Rotary Club.

Art worked for the forest service, while Barbara spent her years working as a teacher. The two worked as a team on Monday morning; Art took the boxes off the top of the pallet, lowering them for Barbara to place into cars.

The duo helped distribute just over 2,000 boxes on Sunday, and around 2,100 on Monday. Each box has a few materials including different types of canned food, hygiene supplies, health supplements and more.

“It’s a good effort,” Art said. “It’s always good to get up early and the morning and come and provide help. Rotary is all throughout the world, we do this throughout the year.”

Rotary District 5230 and Global Empowerment Mission partnered together, donating and distributing over 4,000 emergency relief boxes for victims of the recent floods.
Rotary District 5230 and Global Empowerment Mission partnered together, donating and distributing over 4,000 emergency relief boxes for victims of the recent floods.

As the last boxes were distributed and the few remaining cars began leaving Monday afternoon, so did the remaining volunteers. More than 25 people volunteered over the two-day period.

Even though this weekend’s distribution event is over, Global Empowerment Mission’s Director of West Coast Operations Elizabeth Jernberg said the work is far from over. The nonprofit has been helping out communities impacted by the floods all throughout California since the start of 2023. They have helped out communities in Crestline, San Bernadino, San Luis Obispo and more.

Global Empowerment Mission’s response in Tulare County is considered the first of three stages.

The overall goal of the first stage is to provide hope to the affected population through reconnaissance and assessment, search, rescue and loss mitigation, as well as real-time aid.

The second stage is meant to help minimize waiting time by providing help before government and permanent infrastructure kicks in. Global Empowerment Mission tries to accomplish this by handing out cash cards as well as securing temporary housing and shelter.

The final stage helps those in need of permanent, durable housing and infrastructure.

“There are many ways we can do phase two, it’s just up to the community and where they’re at,” Jernberg said. “The third phase is always the easiest one because that’s when we get to hang out with the community, see what their general needs are, see where they’re at.”

To donate to Rotary District 5230, click here. To donate to Global Empowerment Mission, click here.

Rotary District 5230 and Global Empowerment Mission partnered together, donating and distributing over 4,000 emergency relief boxes for victims of the recent floods.
Rotary District 5230 and Global Empowerment Mission partnered together, donating and distributing over 4,000 emergency relief boxes for victims of the recent floods.

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Global Empowerment Mission, Rotary help thousands of flood victims