Thousands of migrant workers come to Florida every year to do the
hard job of picking citrus crops. It’s the primary way they can afford
even a minimal living. Now it’s reported that Hurricanes Charley and
Frances may have wiped out Florida’s entire grapefruit crop, stranding
many migrant workers here in the US without money to feed their families
or return home.
In addition to partnering with The Salvation Army in providing hundreds
of thousands of hot meals to hungry survivors, Operation Blessing has
also come alongside over a dozen churches to help those in the wake of
the storms. We are helping the forgotten survivors of Charley and Frances
– migrant workers and others living in low income households.
Pastor Wendel Smith of Faith Temple Church in Wauchula, Florida has been
leading an amazing disaster relief effort. The church has become a distribution
center where members from approximately 400 migrant and low income families
come every day to get free groceries, clothing and hygiene items!
“I just want to thank everyone that’s been supportive,”
expressed Pastor Smith. “We’ve been feeding families every
day since Charley [minus a couple when Frances hit]. These people’s
faces are stressed as they come for supplies. We’re trying to encourage
families to work through it.”
The needs of the hurting and sick are also being addressed. In Charlotte
County and Arcadia, Florida, survivors are seeing an unusual 40-foot bus.
It’s the Florida Baptist Convention’s bus that is usually
used for dental missions, but right now individuals are able to receive
basic first aid treatment and get common prescriptions filled. They are
serving up to eighty migrant and low income patients every day!
These are just a couple of examples of how you are currently assisting
us in helping the survivors of Hurricanes Charley and Frances. Thanks
to our faithful partners, thousands of people are receiving food, clothing,
water, cleaning supplies and repair work every day. The work is far from
over. Over 3 million remain without power. Many don’t have enough
insurance to cover the damage.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 1997-
2012
by Operation Blessing International of this page and all contents. No part of this site may be used without prior written consent from OBI. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Email us at operation.blessing@ob.org.
