October 6, 2022 | 1:11 p.m.
Convoy of Hope has served more than 17,000 survivors in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. More than 20 partners and nearly 500 volunteers have served 11 of the hardest-hit communities.
The volunteer response to Ian has been overwhelmingly positive. People are driving hours, just so they can greet guests as they arrive and pack groceries into cars.
A volunteer named Katherine said, “Right now is the best time to show that there is hope out there in the world, that they’re not alone, and that there are people out there looking out for them. Even though we may not know them ourselves.”
October 5, 2022 | 2:23 p.m.
“It was 8-foot-deep ocean here,” Ben Carlson recounts as he drives through what is left of a neighborhood on Pine Island, Florida. “We were picking up fish in the storm drain.”
“To know the number of dead may take a while,” said his father, Randy Carlson. “To know who’s missing. Who’s here.”
Pine Island is a large, residential island just off the coast. Hurricane Ian barreled directly over the top of it, destroying or flooding every structure in sight. Now, the island is inaccessible except by boat.
Randy, a local pastor, helped lead a door-to-door distribution with Convoy of Hope. Along with food and water, they handed out tarps and other relief supplies.
“We’ve got to go to them,” said Randy. “Knock on their door, see if they’re home, and try to give them good news.”
October 4, 2022 | 9:22 a.m.
Convoy of Hope team members and volunteers from all over Florida served more than 9,500 people yesterday at a distribution that served the Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Pine Island Center, and Bokeelia communities.
Florida Senator Rick Scott joined the distribution while in Fort Myers and surveyed the damage. “Many people have lost their homes. Unfortunately, many have lost their loved ones,” he said. “But what this group is doing is providing hope to others. There’s a great group of volunteers here. That’s exactly what we need right now, and that’s exactly what’s happening in the great state of Florida.”
More than 350 volunteers bagged groceries, loaded them into cars, and greeted every person who attended the distribution.
“I’m from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It’s about two and a half hours away,” said Veronica, a volunteer. “We came here because I’ve been in situations where I’ve needed help and people have shown up.”
At least 78 people have died from the storm. Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing in Florida, and 440,000 homes and businesses in Florida are without electricity. In Cuba, electricity returned to those living in Havana, but most of the country is still without power.
October 3, 2022 | 12:17 p.m.
Convoy of Hope is distributing more food, water, and relief supplies to survivors of Hurricane Ian. As the death toll rises and hundreds of people are rescued from their homes, Convoy and its partners are there to provide tangible expressions of hope as people start rebuilding their lives.
The need for bottled water is still high, as there is a boil order in the Fort Myers area. Nonperishable food and roof repair kits are also in high demand. Convoy is helping meet all of those needs today at a distribution in Fort Myers. Convoy teams will continue to work in southwest Florida post-Ian and will provide long-term support to hurting communities.
October 2, 2022 | 5:56 p.m.
Convoy of Hope’s Disaster Services team will tell you that seeing a disaster is unlike anything else. Trees leaning at a 45 degree angle, cars wrapped around telephone poles, the smell of sea water and molding wood, a general stillness from the grief of what was lost …
Convoy has been responding this week in Fort Myers, Florida — an area that suffered a 12-foot storm surge from Category 4 Hurricane Ian. Convoy’s media team captured the damage from Fort Myers and reported on what remains.
The area, which is about 3 feet above sea level, was hit by the eye of the storm and seems to have suffered the most damage in Florida. Homes there are either flattened or blown through. Cars and motorhomes have washed up into yards. One man said his neighbor’s boat washed into the yard across the street.
There are remnants of daily life caked in mud on the ground: deodorant, a book on accounting, old VHS tapes, Christmas decorations, old clothes, and keepsakes. A pile of around 25 pairs of shoes sit at the end of a driveway, ranging from adult swim shoes to children’s sandals — evidence of a family’s memories spanning years.
There were some residents at their houses, cleaning up debris and putting what they could find in bags. Some yell to each other when they find something in the mud. Folks pass out water on the corner of the neighborhood, holding up cardboard signs reading “Water + Food” on the side of the road to advertise.
Convoy of Hope continues to provide relief for these families through local partnerships in Fort Myers, supplying them with food, water, relief supplies. On top of the physical needs, Convoy strives to bring hope to survivors in what feels like an impossible recovery.
October 2, 2022 | 9:47 a.m.
The tragedy of Hurricane Ian continues to unfold. State officials have confirmed that 47 people have died in Florida because of the storm. Four more have died in North Carolina, and three deaths are confirmed in Cuba. More than 850,000 are without power, and roads to some islands and outlying areas are still completely destroyed. More than 1,000 people have been rescued from flooded areas.
In the midst of the suffering and sadness, Convoy of Hope served more than 850 families yesterday in Fort Myers. More than 192 Floridians also volunteered at the event, a testament to the love that residents have for their community.
Guest after guest said the same things: the storm was terrifying to witness, utilities were still out afterward, lines for gasoline were hours long, but they were hopeful for the future.
“Everyone is trying to get together and work with each other as a community,” said local Eli Cruz. “Everyone gets together like a family.”
October 1, 2022 | 5:15 p.m.
Guests sharing that they see helicopters rescuing people every 15 minutes.
A man in a car that has smoke rising up from under the hood telling volunteers, “Don’t open the back! Everything I own is in the back.”
Volunteers getting emotional because they, too, are struggling with the weight of living through a massive hurricane.
These are just a few of the scenes that played out today at Convoy of Hope’s disaster relief point of distribution at First Assembly of God in Fort Myers, Florida. More than 100 volunteers joined Convoy’s team to distribute food, water, and relief supplies to survivors of Hurricane Ian.
Volunteers made today’s event a powerful expression of kindness. From those who shared words of encouragement as they served — “We love you,” “We gotchu,” “It’s going to get better.” — to those that cheered “You made it, you survived!” and “Deus te abencoe!” (Portuguese for “God bless you”), these individuals made everyone Convoy served today feel seen and loved.
“It was an emotional day,” said Ethan Forhetz, Convoy’s National Spokesperson, who was at the event. “Everyone who was here was still reeling from the devastation. The volunteers’ ability to serve, despite their personal circumstances, was truly inspiring.”
Rosie was one of the people Convoy served today. She started crying as she saw one of her coworkers volunteering. “I was afraid to come the distribution,” she said, “… but my heart kept saying ‘Come, Rosie, come.’”
Mike, one of the youth leaders from the church, said, “Last night, I was telling my wife ‘Let’s go, anything we can do.’ We’re going to be helping out. I really do think this is what the [global] church has been needing to do. I’m so grateful you guys could be here — getting to partner with y’all.”
As the distribution came to an end, team members heard someone in the carline summarize the day perfectly: “Everything beautiful about this area is destroyed … except the spirit.”
Convoy of Hope will continue to serve survivors in Florida in the coming days and weeks. Thank you for your support as we continue to share hope with those suffering in the wake of Hurricane Ian.
October 1, 2022 | 9:37 a.m.
Convoy of Hope has begun distributing food, water, and relief supplies to those affected by Hurricane Ian. Lines of cars showed up Saturday morning to receive desperately needed essentials.
Convoy of Hope is currently distributing relief supplies in the city of Fort Myers and will expand into nearby areas as quickly as possible.
At least 30 people have died because of Hurricane Ian, 27 of which lived in Florida. As survivors struggle to put their lives back together, Convoy of Hope will continue to distribute relief.
It’s projected that some Foridians will be out of power for the coming weeks. Without power, grocery stores and other places distributing essential supplies will remain closed. Convoy is there to provide help during what is some people’s darkest hour.
September 30, 2022 | 6:46 p.m.
Hurricane Ian made landfall for the last time this afternoon as a Category 1 storm in South Carolina. Currently, more than 400,000 people are without power in the area.
Despite its comparatively low wind speeds, Ian once again brought widespread rain and flooding to an area that hasn’t seen a hurricane in six years.
September 30, 2022 | 9:41 a.m.
State officials are saying at least 21 deaths have been caused by Hurricane Ian. And everyone who is witnessing the damage caused by the storm is saying the same thing: It will take months to recover.
Convoy of Hope is in Florida and working with local officials on the best place to set up PODs. Convoy will work with local church, civic, and nonprofit groups to distribute as much relief as possible.
