Hurricane Ian Relief Efforts Begin in Florida

FLORIDA – Hurricane relief efforts are underway across Florida after the devastation of Hurricane Ian. Operation Blessing teams are on the ground partnering with local churches and humanitarian groups to reach residents in greatest need.

Operation Blessing went to Calvary Assembly of God in Port Charlotte, Florida to meet with Senior Pastor Daniel Kolenda. “I understand that the storm hovered over the area for several hours, which I think traumatized people. And so now the infrastructure’s been compromised. People are not able to get fuel and food and things like that, and there’s no electricity. I know there’s a lot of physical needs. Homes are damaged,” he said.

This Port Charlotte church has been serving their community since 1960. Pastor Daniel says the majority of his neighbors are retirees who can’t physically begin the road to recovery alone. He said, “I think what we need to do now, as a body of Christ, is focus on helping people.”

Operation Blessing and Calvary Assembly of God are teaming up to meet the needs of the people in the community.

“I got a call from Operation Blessing, and I thought, my goodness, this is a divine appointment, because you guys have the the resources and the expertise, and we have the need,” said Pastor Daniel. He continued, “We’re looking forward to these next few weeks when we can really make an impact on this community.”

Partnering for Hurricane Ian Relief Efforts

With the help of friends like you, our teams set up their base of operations at Calvary Assembly of God’s church facilities. Pastor Daniel said, “Well, Operation Blessing is going to come in here with supplies, and with tarps and people that will go out into the neighborhoods and actually put that on the people’s roofs for them.”

He continued, “If they’ve got nasty debris in the house that needs to be hauled out to the street, they’ll go in there and pull it out and put it on the street for them. Or let’s say they don’t necessarily have a problem at their house, but they need some supplies.”

Pastor Daniel strongly believes that with the support of the Operation Blessing family, we can greatly impact his community for the Lord. He said, “I would like to thank the Operation Blessing partners for the sowing that they’ve done, because you’ve sowed into good ground, and now there are people in need who are reaping the harvest of what you sowed.”

Operation Blessing has already begun volunteer relief work in the most devastated communities. To volunteer with Operation Blessing as a disaster relief worker in Florida, visit ob.org/volunteer.

Visit ob.org/obdisaster to help victims of disaster now.

“There’s About Two and a Half Feet of Water in my House!”

volunteer, recipient receives hurricane ian recovery supplies

FLORIDA – Hurricane Ian wreaked havoc on the Florida coast, devastating homes and businesses. After the hurricane, Florida resident Alexandria returned home to find complete devastation. Now Operation Blessing is there to help with Hurricane Ian recovery.

“There are trees and cars in the roadways. There’s a lot of debris and stuff everywhere. But when I actually drove to Fort Myers—that’s when it really sank deep,” Alexandria said. “There is about two and a half feet of water throughout my entire home, and it’s not livable anymore.”

Operation Blessing’s disaster relief efforts include partnering with local churches to distribute cleaning supplies, food, and water. These items are critical to people who now find themselves homeless or without power.

Providing Supplies to Help Recover after Hurricane Ian

“Receiving the bucket from Operation Blessing was just such a blessing! It took a huge weight off. The last thing I need to think about is cleaning supplies and trash bags and how I am going to get this stuff,” Alexandria said.

She continued, “The smell was rancid, because the ocean water had sat in there for days before I could even get to my place. So the masks were perfect. The gloves were perfect, because most of my belongings were wet that were like three feet underwater.”

As Alexandria went through the items our generous Operation Blessing partners provided, she was excited to use each product. “I could use every single thing in that bucket, and it was useful and needed and of good quality,” she said.

With the generous support of Operation Blessing partners, our disaster relief teams are committed to giving Florida families what they need right now, as they take their first steps toward recovery.

Alexandria said, “To all the partners and Operation Blessing, I just want to say thank you, genuinely, from the bottom of my heart. What you do matters! So I just thank you; you’re a blessing.”

Visit ob.org/obdisaster to help victims of disaster now.

To volunteer with Operation Blessing as a disaster relief worker in Florida, visit ob.org/volunteer.

You Gave Rest To The Weary

PERU – Digna could feel it coming on—the telltale wave of fatigue, the shortness of breath—as she went about tending sheep and chasing her 2-year-old across the field for what seemed like the tenth time. For this young mother accustomed to physical labor and walking everywhere, these symptoms said one thing loud and clear: She was sick. And the nearest city was well over an hour’s walk from her town.

San Jeronimo de Ullagachi is a lovely place with kind people, but for most of Digna’s life it didn’t have a health center. If residents became ill, they dealt with it themselves or braved the long trek to the city of Puno—where they arrived exhausted. “Every time I was sick, I would walk for hours,” Digna said. “The health center was very far away. When I got there, I would feel worse.”

But a few years ago, the situation changed for the better. Operation Blessing had seen the need in Digna’s community, and compassionate friends like you helped fund the refurbishment of a local building, turning it into a fully equipped health center in Peru serving several communities in the area.

Facing Sickness With A Community Health Center In Peru

Now, Digna and others can receive quality care from competent health personnel right in their back yard. That means Digna and her little girl can face sickness without the overwhelming prospect of traveling for miles and further depleting their energy.

So when Digna wasn’t feeling well this time, she just paid a visit to San Jeronimo Health Center.
“I had a fever, and my throat hurt,” she shared. “They told me I had bronchitis. I was sick for days.” But instead of being worried, Digna was thankful. “Now I don’t have to go to another district for help.”

Before the new center was built, seeking medical care would take Digna’s entire day. On this occasion, however, she was immediately diagnosed with acute bronchitis—and you helped provide the free medication for her treatment. She said, “When I went to the health center, I knew that I would be fine. The doctor was nice; he told me what was wrong and what I had to take to feel better.”

A couple of weeks later, Digna went back to the health center for a checkup and all was well. She offered her heartfelt appreciation: “Thank you, Operation Blessing! I don’t have to walk for hours anymore. If my Sofia gets sick, I can take her by walking a few steps. I feel better now and thank God for all of you, because this is a lot of help for everyone here in San Jeronimo.”

Getting Helpful Supplies to Hurricane Ian Victims

getting-supplies-to-hurricane-ian-victims

FLORIDA – Operation Blessing is in coastal Florida partnering with local churches and getting helpful supplies to Hurricane Ian victims. In a matter of hours, the hurricane turned these families’ lives upside down. They now need all the help they can get.

Pastor Greg and his wife have been the leaders of Destiny Church for about 15 years. They said Hurricane Ian was like nothing they’d ever experienced.

“The winds were unbelievably strong. We could see it coming, hear it coming. And the thing that makes this storm different is the storm surge. The waves came in some places, and it just overtook all of those homes. There was no time to get out when it started coming in,” Pastor Greg said.

For many in Florida, the impact of Hurricane Ian is going to be long-lasting. Many residents believe it’s going to take a long time to recover and rebuild. Right now, Pastor Greg and his church are in the recovery stages, helping families get salvageable belongings out of their homes.

Getting Helpful Supplies to Hurricane Ian Victims

Operation Blessing delivered pallets of water, cleaning supply buckets, and other essential items to help families on the long road to recovery. Pastor Greg said, “Operation Blessing were the first ones to respond. Behind me are semi-truckloads full of supplies that we’ve been steadily getting out to the people.”

In the buckets of cleaning supplies are trash bags, gloves, hand sanitizer, and more. Operation Blessing also delivered boxes of ready-made food items that don’t require cooking. This is beyond helpful for many residents still without power.

Thanks to the generosity of our Operation Blessing partners, local churches have what they need to minister to their communities.

Pastor Greg said, “We’re so grateful to everyone who supports Operation Blessing. And we thank all of those that are helping supply all these things because it’s really making a difference.”

Visit ob.org/obdisaster to help victims of disaster now.

To volunteer with Operation Blessing as a disaster relief worker in Florida, visit ob.org/volunteer.

“It’s Like a Warzone” – Damage from Hurricane Ian in Florida

FLORIDA – “Like a warzone.” This is how residents of Florida are describing the damage they face after Hurricane Ian barreled through in late September. The devastation is catastrophic. A reported 76 Floridians even lost their lives to the storm, and the death count only continues to rise. Survivors have just begun the long and arduous process of rebuilding the remnants of towns and homes now heavily damaged by wind and flooding.

Damage from Category 4 Hurricane Ian

For those who did not experience the destruction first-hand, it is hard to understand the scale of the damage. Damage from Category 4 Hurricane Ian includes flooded homes, buildings, schools, and roads. Scores of hurricane victims are now picking up the pieces and in need of help and hope.

“The cleanup here is just going to be enduring for months,” reports CBN’s Brody Carter. But Operation Blessing is poised to provide desperately-needed help to those affected by this historic disaster. U.S. Disaster Relief Deployment Manager David Wright shares, “We have food, pallets of water, tarps to help dry-in the homes, and construction trailers of equipment we can use to help go in and muck-and-gut the houses affected.”

By distributing disaster relief supplies, helping to rebuild, and providing hope to storm victims, Operation Blessing is committed to serving Florida communities in need.

Visit ob.org/obdisaster to help victims of disaster now.

To volunteer with Operation Blessing as a disaster relief worker in Florida, visit ob.org/volunteer.

Loving Our Neighbors After Hurricane Ian

Help Now!

FLORIDA – Our team is on the move in Florida. As soon as roads opened, the compassion of supporters like you got to work, making its way through the flooded streets with help and hope. Hurricane Ian survivors face long days ahead, but together with Operation Blessing, you can be there to walk them through it.

Connecting with Churches to Offer Hurricane Relief

Facing the devastation head-on, our disaster relief team has already delivered aid from our faithful partners to communities like Naples and Cape Coral. We’re handing out critical supplies like tarps for damaged roofs, generators to sustain those without power, and emergency food and water. Many more communities need the same help. Our teams are traveling across the devastated Florida coast assessing damage and preparing to deliver key supplies to the next communities in need.

The U.S. Disaster Relief Team is actively working with local churches who know the needs in their communities and who are motivated to offer hope to the hopeless. We visited Crosspoint Christian Church of Cape Coral, Florida. There, Lead Pastor Matt Swearingen told us their church was actively praying about how they could make a difference. Their prayers are getting answered as the Operation Blessing family equips them with the supplies their neighbors desperately need to experience God’s love in this difficult time.

Help in Their Hour of Need After Ian

As the team headed onward to hard-hit Ft. Myers, devastation was everywhere: semi-trucks flipped over, gas station canopies bent out of shape, and trees ripped from the ground. This community and others like it were traumatized by hours of sheltering in place during the storm, wondering if their families would make it through safely. And now, all they see around them is ruin. But with your help, they can also see a way forward.

Together, we can help lift the burdens of overwhelmed disaster victims. We can offer a glimpse of better days ahead. Will you give the gift of hope today?

You can help now here.

Polish Woman Turns Ski Resort to Shelter for Ukrainian Families

POLAND – Many Ukrainian families are still fleeing the war and going to Poland. To help these refugee families, Magdalena Drag turned her ski resort in Poland into a shelter for Ukrainian families.

Magdalena said, “Doing this has taught me to be open to helping other people, because we never know when we could face a similar situation.”

Shelter For Ukrainian Families In Need

The shelter can house up to 70 people at one time. Magdalena says it’s always full as families rotate in and out while getting on their feet in the new country.

“Sometimes families come to us with nothing in their hands. Normally we buy food and other things to meet their basic needs,” explained Magdalena.

Operation Blessing supported the shelter by dropping off critical supplies and food. With the help of our partners, Magdalena can continue to offer shelter to families in need.

Magdalena thanks everyone who supports Operation Blessing.

Disaster Relief Supplies For Historic Hurricane Ian

disaster relief supplies for hurricane ian victims

FLORIDA – Since Hurricane Ian struck southwestern Florida, this historic storm has ravaged cities all along the coastline causing catastrophic damage. High-speed winds and torrential rain leveled areas like Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island. Giant boats lie smashed in the streets. Over twenty people have been reported dead, and hundreds have been rescued—with both of those numbers expected to skyrocket in coming days. Right now, your support is needed more than ever.

Disaster Relief For Naples, Florida

Already, Operation Blessing supporters have reached out in compassion to touch the hurting with tangible aid. Before the storm even made landfall, the Operation Blessing Disaster Relief Team was already on the ground in Florida prepping gear and loading trucks with essential supplies and tools. Now, our team is on the move delivering vital disaster relief supplies for Hurricane Ian. We made it to Naples, Florida, with our first load last night. Today we’ve begun deliveries to multiple other locations, and will be working feverishly throughout the weekend to get aid where it’s needed most. We anticipate months of intensive work ahead of us as we bless the shattered people of Florida.

Operation Blessing Senior Deployment Manager, David Wright, says, “Thanks to the support of Operation Blessings partners, we’re able to be here handing out much needed supplies—things like generators, tarps, and emergency food and water. We’re also partnering with local churches in the area to help find the greatest needs. “

Disaster Relief Supplies For Hurricane Ian Victims

We can’t stress enough how dire disaster relief supplies for Hurricane Ian victims is at a time like this. Floridians need water, food, generators, tarps, cleaning supplies, and help restoring their communities and their lives. Perhaps just as importantly, they need comfort, support, encouragement, and hope! Let’s all work together to make a true difference for disaster victims in urgent need. You can help now here.

Ready to Assist as Florida Endures Hurricane Ian

**UPDATE 9/30/22 – Our disaster relief team is officially on the move and delivering vital supplies to help hurricane victims in hard-hit areas like Naples, Florida!

FLORIDA – Operation Blessing’s Disaster Relief team is on the ground in Florida, ready just outside of harms way. We are preparing our arsenal of disaster relief equipment and supplies to help families recover after Hurricane Ian passes. Damage reports are flooding in and our local partners are reaching out for urgent help! We will roll out just as soon as travel is possible.

While Hurricane Ian was making landfall, our staff was making sure chainsaws and other essential items are all ready to go. Inside and out of our warehouse we staged pallets of bottled water, Gatorade, tarps and cleaning supplies and loading them onto our trucks and trailers ready to deploy to the areas most affected by Hurricane Ian. One of the ways Operation Blessing can help people facing extensive Hurricane Ian damage is by being ready to go into action as soon as it is safe to do so.

Being Prepared And Assessing Hurricane Ian Damage

As the Hurricane Ian damage gets assessed, Operation Blessing can begin devising a plan to help distribute the supplies. The goal is to get supplies to the places they are most desperately needed. Accordingly, Operation Blessing will work with our local partners to determine how to distribute items the most effectively.

Thanks to the support of Operation Blessing partners, the disaster relief team is equipped to mobilize ahead of the storm to help families take their first steps towards recovery.

Please keep Florida in your prayers. You can help desperate disaster victims now here.

Hurricane Ian Slams Florida as Catastrophic Category 4 Storm

Hurricane Ian slams Florida as a Category 4 storm

**UPDATE 9/30/22 – Our disaster relief team is officially on the move and delivering vital supplies to help hurricane victims in hard-hit areas like Naples, Florida!

FLORIDA – Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida as a catastrophic category 4 storm, about 90 miles south of Tampa Bay near Caya Costa. However, it wreaked havoc over a far larger area including much of Florida’s southwestern coast. Storm surges reportedly reached as high as 18 feet. Buildings were flattened and houses washed away. Authorities fear hundreds are dead.

Roughly 2.17 million residents are without power, and over 10,000 people have hunkered down in shelters. Storm conditions led to the closing of multiple airports, railroads, and ports. The Coast Guard made over 20 rescues yesterday. A large portion of them took place in Ft. Myers. Damage reports will be pouring in throughout the day. Catastrophic flooding and life-threatening storm surge are forecast to continue as Tropical Storm Ian moves towards Georgia and South Carolina.

As Hurricane Ian Slams Florida Operation Blessing Stands Ready

Thankfully, our USDR team weathered the storm safely. We remain on standby with large quantities of disaster relief supplies and equipment in Ocala, Florida, outside the hardest hit areas. Right now we’re assessing the damage and reaching out to local partners. We will move into the harder hit areas with disaster aid just as soon as travel is possible.

During this tragic time, please keep Florida in your prayers! And pray for our disaster relief team as they reach out to heartbroken survivors. You can give a special gift to disaster victims today at ob.org/disasterrelief

HELP NOW!