Photo: Global Empowerment Mission
Hurricane Ian ravaged Southwest Florida four months ago, and for some victims, recovery is a long process.
"Even though the headlines start to kind of go away, the need doesn't," says Global Empowerment Mission Chief Development Officer Patrick Lynch.
The Doral-based organization was there only hours after the storm made landfall offering necessity kits to families, now it's shifted to helping with sustainability, long term recovery and ultimately empowerment.
Today's giveaway is taking place on Fort Myers Beach at 134 Connecticut Street.
"We're distributing drywall, mud, screws and tape and brand-new mattresses for folks that are really trying to rebuild their homes after the devastation."
This project is in partnership with the Rotary International District 6960, which contacted GEM saying it had donor money but needed help getting drywall.
Supply chain issues remain a problem in the area, but Lynch says, "We have relationships with partners around the region and around the country that we're able to work with and source materials that we need and get them into the community when we can."
Along with Florida, Global Empowerment Mission has warehouses in California, Poland and Ukraine.
Since 2011 it's supported in all 50 states and in 40 countries.