ORLANDO, Fla. – As Florida and FEMA get organized to help after Hurricane Milton, community groups and nonprofits are already fanning out, trying to help people who need everything from food to cooling and comfort stations to help clearing debris.
[RELATED: Applying for FEMA help after a hurricane? Here’s what you need to know]
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Second Harvest Food Bank
Second Harvest Food Bank is open and already moving food out to people in need for the seven counties it serves in Central Florida: Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties.
Nonprofit organizations and Second Harvest partners were moving trucks in and out of the headquarters in Orlando. Pauline Jackson with Jesus Loves You Outreach had a sense of gratitude for the food bank to be open so quickly.
“If it wasn’t for Second Harvest we wouldn’t be able to feed the families that we feed,” Jackson said. “We feed hundreds of families every month. And without Second Harvest, people would suffer.”
If you need help, you can use Second Harvest’s Food Locator on the food bank website. Second Harvest also has a community resource director with numbers for rent or utility assistance, housing help, help for the elderly, disability assistance and more. You can find that directory here.
Second Harvest Food Bank is receiving outside help as well. On Friday morning, Disney dropped off 14,500 boxed meals and Feeding Florida donated four tractor-trailer loads of boxed meals.
“We’ve been very, very busy here after Hurricane Milton,” said Greg Higgerson, chief development officer at Second Harvest Food Bank. “The need just spikes in those areas that are hardest-hit. We are distributing more food even than we do on a daily basis, which is really saying something. Lot of activity going on today here, food coming in and food going out.”
Volunteers were busy sorting meats and boxes Friday morning. Whether it was for community service hours or just wanting to lend a helping hand, Second Harvest always welcomes the help.
“It’s the combination that I need community services for school but also makes me feel like I actually had an impact on the community,” said Tara Baader, a volunteer from Windermere. “Every time I see how messed up everything is like in the world, it makes me feel like I have at least some amount of impact, even if it’s a small amount.”
Jaden Paul, a volunteer from Winter Park sees the importance of giving his time again and again.
“This food is so much but people need to come back here next week and we need to sort out food for them again,” Paul said. “Doing this work is really necessary for these people so they don’t go to sleep hungry.”
Volunteer shifts are available and needed at Second Harvest Food Bank. You can go online to their website at www.FeedHopeNow.org to see days available to help, as well as a food locator page to find a food bank nearest to you.
Heart of Florida United Way
Dial 211 and you can reach someone who can connect you with services in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties:
- Shelter information and housing assistance
- Sandbags, tarps, and other storm supplies
- Evacuation routes and road closures
- Food, clothing, and hygiene locations
- Special needs registry and medical supplies
- Emotional and crisis support
Head to the Heart of Florida United Way Hurricane Resources page to find more information.
Crisis Cleanup and Hope Florida
U.S. Rep. Dan Webster says Crisis Cleanup has a hotline you can call to get connected with local volunteers for storm cleanup. Call 1-844-965-1386.
He also suggests reaching out to Hope Florida, to find help from groups with things like food, household goods, home repairs and more. You can find a request form here, or call 833-GET-HOPE (438-4673).
Samaritan’s Purse hotline
Volunteers with Samaritan’s Purse offer free help with debris or flood cleanup and removal, temporary roof tarping and chainsaw work. Call 1-833-747-1234.
County-by-county information
As we get county-by-county information we will share it here.
ORANGE COUNTY
- State Rep. Anna Eskamani has opened a constituent assistance form for people who need help, including with debris pickup. Right now her team is focused on her Orlando district, but they will try to connect people out-of-district with services as well. Head to Eskamani’s website and fill out the help form.
- U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost’s office has also been helping the community with storm relief and they are looking for volunteers for a hurricane clean-up event on Saturday, Oct. 12. You can sign up HERE. Contact Frost’s office if you need help.
OSCEOLA COUNTY
Anyone seeking a meal can go to the Salvation Army at 700 Union Street in Kissimmee. They start serving meals at 11 a.m. each day on a first-come, first-served basis.
VOLUSIA COUNTY
- Cooling Stations:
- Eight Volusia County Libraries are now open and serving as cooling centers for people who need to get out of the elements. Go to the Volusia County Public Library website for more information.
- Hope Place Public Library, 1310 Wright Street, Daytona Beach
- Port Orange Regional Library, 1005 City Center Circle
- Edgewater Public Library, 103 W Indian River Blvd
- Oak Hill Public Library, 125 E Halifax Avenue
- DeBary Public Library, 200 N Charles R Beall Blvd
- Lake Helen Public Library, 221 N Euclid Avenue
- Deltona Regional Library, 2150 Eustace Avenue
- DeLand Regional Library, 130 E Howry Avenue
- Housing:
- Volusia County has opened the county fairground shelter at 3100 E New York Avenue in DeLand for people who need transitional aid while they wait for a more stable housing situation. Intended for crises, these accommodations provide very little privacy or comfort. This shelter is pet friendly; however, pet owners must bring crates, pet food, prescription pet meds, food and water bowls, leashes, Pet ID tags filled out with contact information, drinking water, potty pads or cat litter, and copies of pet medical records. Do not bring alcoholic beverages, smoking materials, vaping devices, valuables, weapons, and excessive or heavy luggage.
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