PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. (WSVN) — A South Florida nonprofit is feeding a need, days after Hurricane Irma’s winds left thousands of residents in the Florida Keys without a place to call home, and WSVN is among those making a contribution to help these victims.
Feeding South Florida has been working nonstop through the storm, readying for deployment. “We’re making sure they have everything they need,” said Feeding South Florida CEO Paco Velez, “not only food and water, but also cleaning supplies to make sure they’re getting their homes and their lives back together.”
The agency is focused on ensuring people in the Keys still in shelters or returning home with next to nothing left receive the much-needed supplies. “There’s really nothing that shows the strength of the community than after a disaster and everyone coming together,” said Feeding South Florida spokesperson Sari Vatske.
Velez said emergency crews are allowing them to go to the Keys to deliver the supplies. “Really, no one is allowed to go down to the Keys, but since we are part of the emergency response team, we are able to go to mile marker 74,” he said. “That’s as far as we are able to go, so we’re going to go down to 74 and everything before that, and make sure that we’re dropping at our partner agencies or any kind of evacuation shelter.”
TY @wsvn @JoeRoetz 4 sharing our efforts to support our friends in the #FloridaKeys. Supplies r on the way! #FloridaStrong #HurricaneIrma pic.twitter.com/PVmezwshVv
— Feeding South Florida® (@FeedingSouthFL) September 12, 2017
Tuesday afternoon, at least a dozen volunteers were piling much-needed food, water and cleaning supplies on trucks.
This special delivery comes with a message of hope. “It’s just really important for everyone to know that help is on the way,” said Vatske. “The Navy and Army are airlifting supplies. They’re bringing supplies in by sea. Folks are working hard to make sure people have what they need.”
The trucks left late Tuesday night from the food bank’s Pembroke Park facility, located at 2501 SW 32nd Terrace.
Feeding South Florida is committed to helping everyone in the Lower Keys. WSVN has joined forced with the agency to being relief to the people in the Keys. WSVN owner Edmund Ansin has made a contribution. The 7 NEWS / Feeding South Florida Irma Relief Fund has earmarked $100,000 to Feeding South Florida and encourages others to donate.
If you would like to help, Feeding South Florida is asking for personal hygiene products such as toilet paper, diapers, toothpaste and toothbrushes. You may drop off the items at the nonprofit’s Pembroke Park location.
The food bank is also looking for a 50,000-kilowatt generator to be donated.
You may also make a monetary contribution. For more information, click here.
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