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love BEYOND THE STORM

Attitude Of Gratitude

cal corps across the state were responding by feeding, distributing clean-up kits, and providing emotional and spiritual care.”

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After intensifying over the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Ian made landfall on September 28, 2022 in southwestern Florida. Upon its arrival, Ian was a Category 4 hurricane with wind speeds measuring near 150 miles per hour. Ian was the fifth-most powerful storm to strike the United States, pouring water across Florida before strengthening again to make an additional landfall on the coast of South Carolina.

The Salvation Army was on guard, preparing an emergency disaster response, and hundreds and thousands of officers, employees, volunteers, soldiers, and partners deployed to serve.

“Hurricane Ian will be remembered as one of Florida’s worst disasters,” said Jeff Jellets, Emergency Disaster Services Coordinator for The Salvation Army’s USA Southern Territory. “Damage stretched from the southwest coast of Florida across the state. Over 40 Salvation Army feeding units from six states were deployed, with more than 100,000 meals served. In addition to disaster teams operating in the hardest hit areas-Fort Myers, Port Charlotte, Naples and Venice-lo-

In Naples, Captains Ben and Annie Bridges, corps officers, were unable to reach the corps building and, in their stead, Roger and Ada Morales offered to stand guard and maintain order at the facility during Ian’s height. Individuals sought refuge within the walls, with the Morales’ sleeping at the corps, utilizing available cots, and bringing a hopeful and God-driven spirit to the proceedings. “One of the most beautiful things that came out of this was that everyone seeking shelter had an attitude of gratitude,” Ada said. “There was no complaining, yelling or frustration.”

In Port Charlotte, an assisted living facility was unable to keep generators running, leaving seniors vulnerable due to elevator challenges and the immobility of some housed at the center. Salvation Army workers provided meals, and bottles of water, with volunteers scaling the stairs to hand deliver the nourishment.

In a shopping center parking lot in Punta Gorda, Florida, The Salvation Army began distributing meals to the community. A lot of people were coming to get food. Major Serge LaLanne gave a pen and paper to someone who wanted to say thank you. That person wrote a heartfelt message and left the pen and paper on a table. Others saw it and wrote their own nice messages like: “Thank you for your generosity and service to our community,” wrote Paul and Beth. “Thank

God for people like you.” “Thank you so much,” wrote Cindy. “You don’t know what this means to someone who can’t even get into their home.”

Reading these messages was a powerful reminder of the impact that small acts of kindness can have on those in need. The Salvation Army volunteers were not just providing food and resources, but also hope and a sense of community for those who had been struggling.

Salvation Army units also sustained considerable damage from Ian’s wrath. In North Port, a service center was wholly destroyed. The Port Charlotte Corps suffered significant damage, with notable tree and flood damage at the Venice Corps, along with damage in Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Sanford, and others.

“Just like everyone else in southwest Florida, we’ve been deeply impacted by the damaging effects of Hurricane Ian,” said Lt. Colonel Michele Matthews. “But these are our neighbors, and this is what we are called to do, so we have responded with the full resources of The Salvation Army.”

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