This week, Hurricane Milton made landfall in southwest Florida as a destructive Category 3 hurricane with devastating storm surge, powerful high-intensity winds, heavy rainfall, and violent tornadoes. We pray comfort, peace, and safety over all those dealing with loss and hardship following Hurricane Milton.
Although times of crisis can bring pain and chaos, it can also bring communities together. At One More Child, we strive to serve as a vehicle for the Church to mobilize support and deploy resources in the name of Jesus Christ.
We are currently working with churches and community partners to serve those suffering from both Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene. Here is a breakdown of our current situation, the needs that exist, and ways you can help.
Our Situation
One More Child sustained damage at multiple locations and we are still assessing the full impact on those we serve, including our foster families and single moms.
Despite the damages to our locations, we remain dedicated to serving vulnerable children and families.
Following the hurricanes, One More Child is blessed to be in a position to help those in need by providing critical resources and offering spiritual encouragement.
The Needs
The needs are desperate as many vulnerable children, families, and individuals face hardships in the aftermath of these storms. Resources that families typically rely on are stretched thin, causing enhanced stress and struggle.
We are committed to meeting urgent needs by providing:
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- Bottled water
- Non-perishable food items
- Diapers and wipes
- Cleaning supplies
- Spiritual encouragement through personal connection and prayer
We have already started distributing resources to areas of need, and we are currently setting up more distributions over the coming days.
Ways to Get Involved
Through our recovery efforts for Hurricanes Helene and Milton combined, we have provided over 3 million pounds of food and water, 3.6 million meals, and 255,000 diapers across Florida, Tennessee, and North Carolina. But that was only the beginning of our efforts, as we now also respond to urgent needs associated with Hurricane Milton.
If you are looking to engage with our hurricane relief operations, there are three primary ways you can get involved:
- Financial Gifts. Give directly to our hurricane relief efforts on this webpage.
- Donations of tangible goods. We are accepting donations of food, water, diapers, etc. at our Compassion Centers in Lakeland and Bradenton.
- Volunteer to distribute resources. As we partner with local churches, we will have opportunities for volunteers to help with the distribution of goods to the community. Visit our relief webpage and social media to stay up to date on volunteer opportunities.
For all the details on how to get involved, please visit: onemorechild.org/relief. This is where you can find the most updated information regarding our recovery operations.