Hurricane Ian Response:
What We’ve Done, are Doing, and May Do
Volunteer Opportunities – Do You Want to Help?
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Dear Friends,
When I drive around my part of town, I see that everything is in okay shape. I see stores opening, some browning on the trees and shrubbery, and some minor landscape messiness. As I drive closer to 41, near the Gordon River, or in some places near downtown, I begin to see a different picture. On Monday, I went to the Goodlette Arms apartments to deliver meals through Feed Thy Neighbor. Their lower floor was washed out. I saw dozens of cars with their doors wide open, letting their cars dry out, assuming that they are salvageable.
Our town was mostly affected in low-lying areas and areas near the coast, canals, and the Gordon River. Many homes are temporarily uninhabitable. As we look north toward Lee County, we can see levels of damage that are far worse than we saw with Katrina.
Now over 10,000 Floridians are now without homes.
Now is an urgent time to love our neighbor.
Let’s consider what we have done, what we are doing, and what we may do.
In the past few days,
- We have offered our church for Sunday afternoons for partner churches affected by the hurricane so that they could gather for worship.
- We have reached out to the Bishop and the Canon to the Ordinary, offering our church campus for any needs of the Episcopal Church Relief and Development.
- The vestry has called most of our parishioners to connect with them.
- We have taken up a collection for Episcopal Relief and Development.
- We have prepared and distributed several hundred meals to the hungry in the area through Feed Thy Neighbor.
- Several of us are offering our extra rooms for those who have lost their homes.
- Helped with demolition and clean-up of homes near the River Park area near the Gordon River.
What we are doing now:
- Continuing to take offerings for Episcopal Relief and Development.
- We are now preparing meals in our kitchen to be delivered by Feed Thy Neighbor.
- At 3pm and 4pm, we take meals for delivery to those who are hungry.
- We continue to host families and individuals in our own homes.
What else we may do:
- Gather work teams for demolition and clean-up. We have been contacted by the mayor’s office about how we can help with work crews.
- Collaborate with other groups, such as the Episcopal Church Relief and Development or other church groups and nonprofits.
Let us pray as we work together to love our neighbor in this time of crisis.
In Christ,
This Saturday, October 8,Feed Thy Neighbor and St. Monica’s Episcopal Church SUCCESS! Thank you to all who helped!
We are holding a FREE MARKET from 10am to 4pm. We will be providing food, water, toiletries, clothing, and other basic household items from 10am to 4pm. All are invited to donate during this time (no large or heavy items). If you need water, food, toiletries, etc., please come to St. Monica’s Episcopal Church on 7070 Immokalee Road.
School Supplies for our Youth SUCCESS! Thank you to all who helped!
We were able to supply over 450 backpacks and supplies to our local schools.
Benefit Concert
The Naples’ Nautilus Chamber Players concert on October 17th raised $500 for Episcopal Church Relief and Development.
Making Bracelets to Raise Funds
One of our second graders, Vittoria, raised $50 for Episcopal Church Relief and Development.
Volunteer Opportunities – YOU CAN STILL HELP!
Every day at 3pm, Feed Thy Neighbor needs drivers to deliver food to the hungry in the community. This is best done within pairs.
For more information, visit: https://www.feedthyneighbor.us/
If you would like to help with clean-up or light repair work, please contact Fr. Jonathan Evans, as we are now forming a team to help in Naples and beyond.
If you would like to donate food to Feed Thy Neighbor, please bring it to the church from 10am to 3pm, Monday through Friday.