Back-to-back hurricanes devastated Tampa Bay, leaving many, especially seniors, with a long road to recovery. In the aftermath, we went door to door to delivering food to stranded elders, witnessed seniors living in flooded mobile homes, listened to the stories of our own volunteers who had lost everything, and we knew Disaster Preparedness, Relief, and Recovery needed to become part of our focus.
In the weeks following Helene and Milton we partnered with Hello in There Foundation and First Contact to provide $500 each to 39 seniors in Gulfport who suffered extensive flooding, home damages, and loss of belongings. Margie was among the individuals who received this support. She shared, “No one expected this devastation. I’m still mourning the loss of everything that felt like home but I’m finding my path forward. I’ve stumbled into a new life with new purpose.”
With the generous support of Community Foundation Tampa Bay and other donors, we are laying the groundwork for long-term disaster recovery and preparedness for seniors. This support has enabled us to respond to immediate needs, including those of seniors like Kristy, whose home of more than 20 years was flooded during Hurricane Helene—along with her father’s home just down the street. Kristy and her husband are now “camping” in their severely damaged home, which has no walls or furnishings, as they have nowhere else to go.
The unexpected costs of storing their salvaged belongings and attempting to create a livable space have only added to the overwhelming stress of navigating insurance claims and FEMA forms. Thanks to the Disaster Relief Fund, we were able to ease some of their financial burden and provide essential items to bring a small measure of comfort back into their lives. Kristy is just one of nearly 100 seniors we’ve been able to support so far through this vital funding.