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Dear friends and neighbors in the Central Gulf Coast,
Thank you for your generous response to my previous letter, specifically the request for money that we can forward to the dioceses most affected by Hurricane Helene. As of this date, you have given $20,000! We will send that money directly to the bishops serving in the dioceses of Western North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Southwest Florida. We send to the bishops in each impacted diocese so that they can direct it to their churches. We prefer to do so because we do not know the needs of their individual churches. Again, thank you for your giving, and please know it is not too late to keep giving which brings me to the second reason for this letter.
Here we are two weeks later with Hurricane Milton bearing down on our neighbors to the south of us. My previous message holds true. Don’t forget them; hold on; give.
Given our proximity to the Tampa area, I wanted to pass on an idea from the people of Trinity, Apalachicola. They are rapidly forming a plan to welcome and support refugees from the affected areas in Florida. Their plan is two-fold: to provide fellowship and care to people displaced in Apalachicola, and to help when they return in the form of a clean-up kit. Here is the flyer they are taking out to hotels and campgrounds in the area.
Such ideas may not translate to your community, but all of us can be mindful of ways we can extend care to those temporarily displaced during the next days and even weeks. Being along the spine of I-10, people are here and people are on the way to us. How might we extend hospitality to them?
If you do know of refugees, please be aware of the streamlined grants process by FEMA for those displaced by a storm. New rules for initial FEMA Assistance in 2024. FEMA has expanded eligibility, made filing easier, and has new types of immediate funding:
Serious Needs Assistance: Funds to help you pay for essential items like food, water, baby formula, medication and other emergency supplies (one-time $750 payment per household). Note: it will be available once the Federal Government has declared your storm eligible for disaster relief.
Displacement Assistance: Funds to help with immediate housing needs if you cannot return to your home because of the disaster (up to 2 weeks hotel equivalent).
Also, the Rev. John Coleman (interim rector at Nativity, Dothan) and Covan Moving Company have extended to us a very generous offer. They will provide a large moving truck to collect supplies in the diocese that will then be delivered to one of the affected areas. We do not yet know the details of where the supplies will go, or the supplies we will collect, so please watch for more details.
Finally, even now, not knowing the level of devastation Hurricane Milton will cause, let us pray.
Heavenly Father, behold and visit, we pray, the cities and towns in the areas devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Sustain those displaced by the storms with food, drink, and all other bodily necessities of life. Comfort those who are living in the uncertainty of still awaiting news of loved ones. Strengthen those first responders who are working tirelessly for the sake of others. Help us, amidst things we do not understand, to know your presence. And we especially remember before you all poor and neglected persons it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them; that, among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, we may ever be defended by your gracious and ready help; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
+Russell
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