Hello and welcome to another episode of Missions to Movements . I am your host , dana Snyder , and I am originally from Sarasota , florida , with family and friends still there , and so I would like to welcome you to this special additional episode .
In the days leading up to Hurricane Milton , I was constantly getting updates from my parents in Sarasota and a bunch of friends nearby , as everyone was contemplating to stay or to go following the recent horrific events of Hurricane Helene just a couple weeks prior , and a bunch of friends decided to stay .
My parents decided to stay , so the anxiety was real , and I have to start off by saying , first off , my family and friends are all safe and okay , some still without power at the time of this recording , but still no significant damage , to which I am so thankful for .
And I wanted to record this podcast because the day before the storm hit I was traveling to give a keynote in Cincinnati , ohio , all about the fact that your story is worthy too .
And from the time I sat down at the airport gate in Atlanta to then boarding and sitting at my seat and then waiting for my bags all around me , whether I was talking to somebody or I could just hear what people were saying people were talking about loved ones they had in Florida and Hurricane Milton and when stories are shared , that's what brings us together .
And in the aftermath of a natural disaster , a big question can be what can I do Like , what can I do to help ? So I sent an email out prior to the storm to all of the Florida-based organizations I knew of on my email list and I did a post on LinkedIn asking them to please share what would be most helpful to them .
So this podcast episode is just that . It's a simple answer to that call , and there has been a tremendous response from organizations all across Florida , and Hurricane Milton has affected countless communities across the state . So I just wanted to share with you a few of the responses that I received .
And if you feel compelled and called to reach out to donate , to give , to volunteer etc . Please do or research on your end . And I will start with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida . They reached out telling me they are prepared to serve as the emergency food supply for seven counties .
They're collaborating with Feeding America and local partners and they have something called MREs , which are meals ready to eat . They have water and non-perishable food ready for distribution . Their team really emphasized that financial donations are the most effective way to support their efforts . Right now .
You can learn more about them at Feed Hope Now at that tag , or Feed Hope Now backslash disaster . Treasure Coast Food Bank is another organization that's actively distributing food and relief supplies to families in need . The Flagler County Education Foundation is supporting students , teachers and families , providing them with essentials , food , school supplies , et cetera .
Susan reached out to me from an animal shelter in Brevard County . They did evacuate 15 to 20 dogs that were in foster homes before the storm . However , they had to close a bunch of their thrift stores , which was their main source of funding , making it difficult to raise money .
So Susan really stressed the importance of monthly donations to help cover the operating costs and aid in their long-term recovery . And let me actually pull up her specific email right now . So the organization is SPCA of Brevard .
So if you want to pull up their website , it's just SBCA Brevard and you can Google and then you'll be able to find all the information about their organization .
If you want to help some animals that are in need following this storm the Community Foundation of Sarasota County I've partnered with them on a few workshops and they reached out to share two really incredible programs with me . Out to share two really incredible programs with me .
One is the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund , and it's an essential resource for long-term recovery in Charlotte , desoto , manatee and Sarasota counties . And this disaster recovery fund really focuses on addressing any unmet needs after emergency service relief concludes .
So this is really looking at investing in equitable and holistic recovery , and so any donations to this fund will help local nonprofits as they support the communities in rebuild and recover . Another one is the Season of Sharing campaign .
Doing some research , it originally began in 2000 and has really become this trusted lifeline for families in Sarasota , charlotte , desoto and Manatee counties .
Over the years it's distributed over $42.5 million to more than 50,000 households Incredible , and really provides a financial bridge for those also at risk of being disposed or displaced or out of work due to the storm . And really cool .
The Patterson Foundation has donated an immediate million dollars to the Season of Sharing campaign and another million to the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund , and they're offering an additional million dollar match for donations to the fund , doubling contributions up to $50,000 , which is pretty cool . Oh , I still have something missing .
I think that's it on the organizations that reach out to me . So , really , thank you so much for listening to this episode . If you are looking to get involved , you can donate . Organizations like Second Harvest , the Season of Sharing campaign , the local animal shelters all of those are always in need of financial support .
If you are nearby and it's safe for you , your time can be invaluable to these organizations as a volunteer . And , of course , something that I'm a big supporter of is that these efforts don't just go away overnight .
So if you are able to commit to being a recurring donor , become a monthly donor , you can really help sustain the recovery efforts long after the storm passes .
So in times like these , community is our greatest strength , and so , whether it's through donation , volunteering or just simply spreading the word , each of us can have a role to play in supporting Florida and what's happening in North Carolina recovery from Hurricane Milton and Helene . So thank you so much for listening to this special episode .
Please share it with anybody that you know is looking for something that they can do to help contribute , and I just pray for a quick and smooth recovery of anyone who is in Milton's path .