GCCF Provides Half a Million in Rapid Hurricane Recovery Support

October 18, 2024 | Venice

Thirteen days after Hurricane Helene decimated our coastlines, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Sarasota County, causing widespread damage throughout the region. Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) activated its Rapid Response Fund knowing the need for fast, critical support in our community would be immense. Gulf Coast’s Rapid Response Fund has provided 18 grants totaling over $500,000 in life-sustaining support to boots-on-the-ground nonprofit organizations that provide immediate shelter, food and water, case managers and case navigators, mental health services, and humanitarian muck and gut to those impacted by the recent hurricanes.

“Our team began preparations the week before Hurricane Milton’s arrival, and our Board met to pre-authorize additional funding for our Rapid Response Fund. Because of this steadfast dedication, the first grant from our Rapid Response Fund was awarded to United Way of South Sarasota County seven hours before Hurricane Milton’s landfall,” said Gulf Coast’s President | CEO Phillip Lanham. “We know the need in our community is tremendous, and the road to recovery is long. We are a resilient community. Together, we will support each other through the revitalization and recovery process.”

Grants from Gulf Coast’s Rapid Response Fund include support for:

• United Way of South Sarasota County to procure gift cards for gasoline and groceries, secure tools, PPE, and temporary housing for those displaced from their homes, as well as Emergency Services Navigators who help individuals find the post-hurricane services they need.
• Lift Church for basic needs such as hot meals, health and hygiene products, and tarps and tools for home repairs.
• Second Heart Homes experienced significant structural damage at several of their homes, which provide permanent supportive housing for unhoused individuals with mental health conditions.
• Better Together which helps families weather life’s storms, especially when an actual storm becomes the crisis. They help families before they fall, knocking on doors and responding to the immediate needs of those most vulnerable in our region.
• Awaken Outreach Center to support food, cleanup, and other immediate needs.
• Operation Warrior Resolution to provide immediate, life-sustaining assistance and mental health support to local veterans and their families.
• Sarasota County NAACP to provide food replacement and generators to help preserve food for Sarasota County residents.
• Gulf Coast Partnership to assist the Charlotte County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) in providing immediate humanitarian needs.
• Disaster Aid USA for additional equipment to provide muck and gut services. 
• Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota to aid clients in purchasing basic baby supplies such as diapers, wipes, formula, water, food, bus passes, Uber gift cards, and gas to get to pre-natal and pediatrician appointments.
• Second Chance, Last Opportunity for emergency food distribution, case management support, counseling, and other critical services.
• Multicultural Health Institute is providing information and resources to several hundred case-managed clients along with new referrals. They provide assistance in completing resource and disaster relief paperwork, short-term stabilization with hotel vouchers, and improved transportation to appointments and services through the distribution of gas cards.
• One More Child to distribute essential supplies to families with children such as water, food, diapers, wipes, clothing, and other tangible necessities. One More Child has dispatched a team to provide relief to communities throughout the state, including Bradenton, Sarasota, and Lakewood Ranch. Distribution events began last weekend and will continue in the weeks to come. In addition to providing items through distribution sites, One More Child is partnering with local nonprofits, churches, and corporations.
• Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County is providing families with limited resources immediate shelter, short-term temporary housing while repairs to homes can be made, food and gas gift cards, and financial support for living expenses until unemployment benefits can be obtained or new employment secured.
• Harvest House toprovide safe housing, essential supplies, and wrap-around services to families.
• Community Assisted and Supported Living, Inc. (CASL) to provide immediate mental health support and life-sustaining services, including housing.
• EqualSRQ Inc. to provide peer support, navigation, and life-sustaining services to individuals in recovery.

National organizations have contributed to Gulf Coast’s Rapid Response Fund, including support from Humana Foundation and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi.

Donors and community members interested in contributing to Gulf Coast’s Rapid Response Fund can visit gulfcoastcf.org/rapidresponsefund.