TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Volunteer Florida today announced the second round of Florida Disaster Fund grant recipients for organizations providing disaster relief following Hurricane Irma. Organizations will receive between $5,000 and $75,000 for disaster response activities to meet critical needs.
On September 8, Governor Scott activated the Florida Disaster Fund to provide financial support to organizations serving those impacted by Hurricane Irma. The Florida Disaster Fund is the State of Florida’s official private fund established to assist Florida’s communities as they respond to and recover during times of emergency or disaster. In partnership with the public sector, private sector and other non-governmental organizations, the Florida Disaster Fund supports response and recovery activities.
To date, the Volunteer Florida Foundation has raised over $15 million to support those impacted by Hurricane Irma. Grants will support organizations that can provide immediate assistance to Floridians in crisis from the impacts of Hurricane Irma. Additional grants will be announced in the future.
Volunteer Florida CEO Vivian Myrtetus said, “Volunteer Florida is proud to award this second round of funding through the Florida Disaster Fund so we can continue to serve individuals and families across the State of Florida. We are grateful for the work of these great organizations.”
Examples of services provided by the organizations includes financial assistance with rent, mortgage and utilities; provision of food, clothing and replacement of household items; sheltering for those who have experienced loss of their homes; individual case management; crisis intervention counseling and hotline services to assist those experiencing psychological distress; assistance for displaced families with pets; muck-out for flooded homes, and removal of dangerous debris.
The Volunteer Florida Foundation will distribute funds to the following grantees:
Adventist Community Services – Statewide
Adventist Community Services will provide donations management services, food distribution and preparation services, and disaster-related financial assistance.
All Faiths Food Bank – Sarasota County
All Faiths Food Bank will provide food distribution and pantry operations services. They will also assist with donations management.
All Hands Volunteers – Statewide
All Hands Volunteers will engage and leverage volunteers, partner organizations, and communities throughout the state to provide mucking and gutting services, demolition services, and more.
Bread of the Mighty Food Bank – Alachua, Lafayette, Levy, Dixie, and Gilchrist Counties
Bread of the Mighty Food Bank will acquire, store, and distribute food and basic essentials that will be available to other partner agencies including soup kitchens, food pantries, and shelters. They will also provide donations management services.
Camp Thunderbird – Orange County
Camp Thunderbird will provide free housing for AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams as their members continue to assist with recovery efforts.
Catholic Charities of Florida, Inc. – Statewide
Catholic Charities of Florida, Inc. will provide services such as disaster stress management, donations management, food distribution, pantry operations, and case management. They will also provide strike teams and long-term recovery.
Centro Campesino – Miami-Dade County
Centro Campesino will provide food and water, financial assistance, and case work services.
Citygate Ministries – Lee County
Citygate Ministries will provide free housing for AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams as their members continue to assist with recovery efforts.
Coalition of Florida Farmworker Organizations – Collier County
Coalition of Florida Farmworker Organizations will provide support for distribution of food and water, help with financial assistance, and provide case work services for migrant populations.
Crisis Clean-up – Statewide
Crisis Clean-Up will connect relief organizations and volunteers with the nearly 10,000 work orders and requests for assistance that have been submitted by Floridians affected by Hurricane Irma.
Farm Share – Statewide
Farm Share will package and distribute food to those in need. They will also advocate for residents applying for federal relief and assistance.
Feeding Northeast Florida – Duval County
Feeding Northeast Florida will support local feeding operations, including staging food banks and assisting with food distributions.
Feeding South Florida – Broward County
Feeding South Florida will support local feeding operations, including staging food banks and assisting with food distributions.
Feeding Tampa Bay – Hillsborough County
Feeding Tampa Bay will support local feeding operations, including staging food banks and assisting with food distributions.
First Step Food Bank – Marion County
First Step Food Bank will distribute food and provide pantry operations as well as donations management services.
Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology – Statewide
Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology will provide financial assistance to individuals with disabilities so that they may replace assistive equipment that has been lost, damaged, or destroyed by Hurricane Irma.
Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church – Polk County
Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church will provide services such as disaster stress management and case management. They will also provide disaster-related financial assistance, strike teams, and long-term recovery.
Florida Gateway Food Bank – Suwannee, Hamilton, Union, and Columbia Counties
The Florida Gateway Food Bank will distribute food and provide pantry operations and donations management services.
Florida State Animal Response Coalition – Statewide
The Florida State Animal Response Coalition will continue to distribute supplies and assist animals impacted by Hurricane Irma.
Food Bank of Manatee – Manatee County
The Food Bank of Manatee will distribute food and provide pantry operations and donations management services.
Goodwill – Statewide
Goodwill will manage and distribute donations to Floridians in need.
HandsOn Broward – Broward County
HandsOn Broward will mobilize volunteers to meet critical needs and engage in recovery service projects.
HandsOn Daytona Beach – Volusia County
HandsOn Daytona Beach will mobilize volunteers to meet critical needs and engage in recovery service projects.
HandsOn Jacksonville – Duval County
HandsOn Jacksonville will equip and mobilize volunteers to meet critical needs and engage in recovery service projects.
HandsOn Martin – Martin County
HandsOn Martin will recruit, equip, and mobilize volunteers to meet critical needs and engage in recovery service projects.
HandsOn Miami – Miami-Dade County
HandsOn Miami will equip and mobilize volunteers to meet critical needs and engage in recovery service projects.
HandsOn Naples – Colliter County
HandsOn Naples will equip and mobilize volunteers to meet critical needs and engage in recovery service projects.
HandsOn Orlando – Orange County
HandsOn Orlando will equip and mobilize volunteers to meet critical needs and engage in recovery service projects.
HandsOn Suncoast – DeSoto, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota Counties
Under United Way Suncoast, HandsOn Suncoast will equip and mobilize volunteers to meet critical needs and engage in recovery service projects.
Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida – Lee and Collier Counties
The Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida will distribute food and provide pantry operations and donations management services.
Heavy Equipment Response Coalition – Statewide
Heavy Equipment Response Coalition will provide resources to communities and organizations for disaster mitigation, response, and recovery. They will also provide tree cutting and debris removal services, manage heavy equipment spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers and pair them with local owner operators who are capable of assisting the response.
Hubbard House – Duval County
Hubbard House will continue to provide emergency shelter along with food and clothing, counseling, and support groups. They will also assist residents in obtaining housing and locating employment.
Hurricane Relief God 1st Inc. – Monroe County
The Hurricane Relief God 1st Inc. will clean up properties, cut trees, haul debris, clean out homes that have been flooded, remove drywall, furniture, carpet, appliances and other household items that have been ruined by water damage. They will also assist the elderly with distribution of food, water, and animal food.
Lake and Sumter Emergency Recovery – Lake and Sumter County
Lake and Sumter Emergency Recovery will provide case management services as an advocate to residents in Lake and Sumter Counties.
Lutheran Social Services – Statewide
Lutheran Social Services will provide case workers through its churches and service offices to assist survivors with counseling, translation services, appeals, and emergency financial assistance throughout the state.
NECHAMA (Jewish Response to Disaster) – Statewide
NECHAMA will provide cleanup and debris removal services and will repair and rebuild homes affected by Hurricane Irma.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance – Statewide
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will provide strike teams, disaster-related financial assistance, and information and referral services.
Presbyterian Social Ministries – Duval County
Presbyterian Social Ministries will provide free housing for AmeriCorps – Disaster Response Teams as their members continue to assist with recovery efforts.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida – Orange County
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida will distribute food and provide pantry operations and donations management services.
Springhill Baptist Church – Nassau County
Springhill Baptist Church will provide free housing for AmeriCorps – Disaster Response Teams as their members continue to assist with recovery efforts.
Star of the Sea Outreach Mission – Monroe County
Star of the Sea Outreach Mission will operate food pantries in the Florida Keys where they will sort, warehouse, and distribute unsolicited donated goods. They will also provide case work services and local transportation for residents.
St. Paul’s Episcopal – Gadsden County
St. Paul’s Episcopal will provide free housing for AmeriCorps – Disaster Response Teams as their members continue to assist with recovery efforts.
The Salvation Army – Statewide
The Salvation Army will assist with warehousing and distribution of donated goods, coordinate with local offices to identify unmet needs, and provide a Salvation Army designated Volunteer and Donations Hotline as needed for current disaster services information.
Treasure Coast Food Bank – St. Lucie County
The Treasure Coast Food Bank will distribute food and provide pantry operations and donations management services
United Way of Palm Beach County – Palm Beach County
The United Way of Palm Beach County will serve as the focal point to which all volunteers report, where their skills are verified, and from which they are reassigned to areas where they are needed. They will also coordinate staff and equip different distribution points throughout the county with volunteers, organize, inventory, package, and redistribute all donations arriving in the county, and support local non-profit organizations engaged is hurricane response activities.
Volunteer Polk – Polk County
Volunteer Polk will recruit, coordinate, and mobilize volunteers and resources.
World Renew – Statewide
World Renew will continue to assess needs, train local leaders, and repair and rebuild damaged homes.
Established in accordance with Section 14.29 (9), Florida Statutes, the Volunteer Florida Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. The Florida Disaster Fund, administered by the Volunteer Florida Foundation, was established in 2004 to assist with needs unmet by other disaster relief organizations.