Salvation Army answers call for Ian relief; Safe Children Coalition; Goodwill; All Faiths
The Salvation Army has deployed multiple teams of disaster workers to support the Hurricane Ian relief effort in Southwest Florida despite the destruction of its service center in North Port and significant damage to a facility in Cape Coral.
The social services and disaster relief organization has so far sent nearly 200 disaster workers into the region, including 40 mobile feeding vehicles. Response team command centers have been set up in Venice, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers, and Naples.
“Just like everyone else in southwest Florida we’ve been deeply impacted by Hurricane Ian,” said Lt. Colonel Michele Matthews, who is leading The Salvation Army's recovery effort in Florida. “But these are our neighbors, and this is what we are called to do, so we have responded with the full resources of The Salvation Army.”
Going into last weekend, Salvation Army teams have distributed roughly 215,000 meals, snacks and beverages.
“The effort put forth by all the relief organizations on the ground in Florida has been phenomenal,” Matthews said. “The support we’ve received from donors, volunteers, and partner organizations has been invaluable in aiding our response.”
To support The Salvation Army's efforts, visit give.helpsalvationarmy.org; call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769); or mail checks to Salvation Army Disaster Relief, PO Box 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301, with “Hurricane Ian” in the memo line (receipts for tax purposes will be mailed).
Post-Ian donations, relief
The Safe Children Coalition, which supports nearly 1,700 children in the child welfare system in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties, has created the Hurricane Ian Relief Fund for Safe Children Coalition families.
Funds will help SCC fulfill special needs for medical care foster homes as well as provide gift cards for food, medicines, and other immediate needs not fulfilled by other agencies. “Our families need us now, more than ever," said Jacqueline House, vice president of communications and community engagement. "Gifts of any amount will be most appreciated and will help at-risk families continue to weather the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.”
Donations can be made at sccfl.org/hurricane-ian-relief-fund. There also is a cryptocurrency link and instructions about making donations via telephone or check. For more information, contact House at 941-225-6166 or jhouse@sccfl.org.
• Goodwill Manasota's Community Resource Centers are open in Bradenton (2715 51st Ave. E.), Sarasota (8490 N. Lockwood Ridge Road) and Venice (676 S. Tamiami Trail) seven days a week from 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and a community resource hotline at 888-230-8820 is staffed around-the-clock.
Goodwill also is accepting donations of material goods and nonperishable food items for All Faiths Food Bank and Food Bank of Manatee. All donation and retail centers are open except in North Port. Visit experiencegoodwill.org for addresses and hours of operations.
• The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation is matching every gift to All Faiths Food Bank for Hurricane Ian disaster relief, up to $100,000. Gifts can be made securely via the donation link at allfaithsfoodbank.org.
All Faiths is holding multiple emergency distributions throughout the community each day as well as providing food for partner agencies to distribute. An up-to-date listing of distribution dates, locations and times can be found at allfaithsfoodbank.org/foodfinder.
Compiled from press releases and community submissions
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Salvation Army steps up; Safe Children Coalition; Goodwill; All Faiths
