Help Needed in Florida: Volunteers Make the Difference

By Rev. Laura Lambert
February 7, 2023

On September 28, Hurricane Ian made landfall on the west coast of Florida impacting approximately 2 million families (in 24 counties) who suffered wind damage, 8–10-foot storm surges and in some cases complete loss of their homes.  The Wesleyan Covenant Association and the Global Methodist Church received generous donations totaling over $200,000 to help survivors with immediate needs and to aid with the recovery.  Churches in the impacted areas provided much needed food, water, emergency resources, and volunteers to help with debris cleanup and mucking out houses.  

Although blue skies have returned, the work continues.  The WCA-Florida is continuing to help families repair and rebuild their homes.  Volunteers make the difference. Approximately 5% of those impacted, over 100,000 families, will not be able to recover on their own.  Among those deeply impacted are people living on a limited income, retirees, people with disabilities, single parents, the elderly, and the uninsured.  Volunteer teams are needed to help with drywall installation, painting, flooring, small roof repairs and other work to provide hope.

Although some families will receive assistance from FEMA, these financial resources are not enough when a home has received damage of over 50%.  Volunteers make the difference by providing labor to lower the cost of repairs so that the family’s financial resources can be used more efficiently.  The WCA-Florida and the GMC in Florida have responded to the continued need by setting up two volunteer housing sites on the west coast of Florida.  There is an urgent need for teams to assist communities. 

One example of a deserving family in need are the Rodríguezes.  The Rodriguez family is a hard-working family. The mom cleans houses, and the father works as a landscaper.  Because of Hurricane Ian, the mom and dad were unable to work for several months.  The family’s home was flooded with 8 feet of water causing them to lose everything and displacing the family.  The parents and their three children (15, 10 and 7) moved into their 10 x 10-foot storage shed next to their house where they lived until just a few weeks ago when they were able to return to the main house.  Through it all, this precious family has maintained a positive attitude and displayed a strong faith that God is in control.  She expresses a deep appreciation for the church, the volunteers, and the support they have received from the community and other nonprofits. Volunteers willing to be the hands and feet of Christ, make the difference. 

Another beautiful story includes the daughter of one survivor that was in tears sharing her answer to prayer regarding her own daughter who came to help her grandmother restore her home.  While working alongside the volunteer team, the granddaughter, who professed to be an atheist, witnessed the enthusiasm and spirit of the volunteers.  She joined in the prayer circle and was open to conversations with a retired pastor on the team who shared the Gospel with grace and love to this Iraqi veteran.  The young girl’s heart was opened and she received Christ anew.  Her mom had been praying for her for ten years since she left Iraq.  God is moving!

These are not the only stories. In one small community of nearly 80 families in Lee County, Florida, almost every home received 6-8 feet of flooding.  Almost every home had to be gutted or demolished.  Some families or individuals have chosen just to walk away because the impact is too overwhelming, but many families have stayed.  They are resilient and determined to repair, rebuild, restore, and recover from the storm.  They cannot do it alone, however.  They need the body of Christ to provide God’s presence, His love, grace, mercy and hope through action.  

You and your church can make the difference by bringing a team of volunteers to aid in the work.  Participants can be 16 years of age or older and can have a variety of skill levels and experience.  We do encourage you to bring at least one experienced skilled worker with you to lead your team.  Each site in Florida has a construction coordinator that will work with your team to prepare the site, position materials and support with hands on teaching and training as needed.  Sites provide housing for team members, a kitchen area for food supplies and cooking as well as shower facilities on site.  Teams can volunteer/register by clicking here.

 The Rev. Laura Lambert is an ordained deacon in the Global Methodist Church appointed to an extension ministry and currently coordinating disaster recovery in Florida.

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