Hurricane survivors on the West Coast of Florida urgently need YOUR help!

After evacuating our post-Hurricane Helene efforts when Hurricane Milton hit, we are now set up in Ruskin, FL to respond to the devastating winds, storm surge, and rains left by Milton. The team is jumping straight into the work again, just two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated this same area.

Dear Aaron,

Hope Force is on the ground in Ruskin and the surrounding areas of Hillsborough and Manatee Counties in Florida. We've returned to serve the people here who did not have time to clean up or even return to their homes after evacuating two weeks ago.

There is widespread roof and flood damage in the towns of Ruskin and Rubonia. Rubonia was hit especially hard by the back-to-back storms — earlier this year from Hurricane Debby and last year’s Hurricane Idalia. This little enclave in the City of Palmetto has generational homes, and a real sense of family and community, and they need YOUR help!

Will you come and serve these beautiful folks who have endured SO much?

Many of them truly feel overlooked and forgotten. Survivor Harry and his sister Veronica take care of their disabled mother and have lived in the area all their lives. Harry told our team today:

“Are you all here to help us? No one else has come! We’re in our 60’s, and mother can’t do anything. All of us here in Rubonia…this neighborhood has been forgotten – ours and all our neighbors’ homes have flooded, and we need help! Can you please help us?”

Will you help us offer hope to survivors by showing up and by empowering others to show up? Come for a few days — come for a week if you can!

If you can’t go, you can still help in these ways:

1. PRAY!!

• Pray for the survivors who are reeling from multiple disasters; disaster fatigue, hopelessness, and financial impact are everywhere.
• Please pray for our team's safety and strength and as they look for other survivors who need help.

2. GIVE!!

• Please consider giving to the Hurricane Milton fund to provide materials to tarp roofs and purchase construction materials to make repairs to homes, as well as other provisions for our teams.

There's a saying in the disaster response world: “There is nothing more powerful than the heart of a volunteer!” More than ever, Hope Force knows this to be true – because of YOU! Please join us in Florida to serve the people of the Gulf Coast, again!

We know that as a Reservist, you share our heart to care for the hurting in the
face of disaster. Thank you for being the ones we can count on.

-The Hope Force Team