How To Help Victims of Hurricane Ian

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Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida Wednesday afternoon as a Category 4 storm, bringing winds of 150 mph and a devastating storm surge.

Rescue efforts are underway with roughly 2.5 million homes and businesses without power, many communities destroyed and countless people trapped.

The storm has left the state and reentered the Atlantic Ocean, but it has also left the state battered and in need of picking up the pieces.

Here are some ways to help the people of Florida affected by Hurricane Ian:


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Ian Response Fund: A coalition of grassroots organizations has launched the IanResponse.org fund to address urgent needs of impacted communities and provide aid throughout the state to quickly address shortfalls. This fund is anchored by a coalition of on-the-ground organizations who came together in the wake of Hurricane Irma, including Florida Rising, Dream Defenders, Florida Immigrant Coalition, FL Jobs With Justice and Faith in Florida. IanResponse.org.

Metropolitan Ministries: Chef Jose Andres and his World Central Kitchen team aim to prepare 15,000 hot meals and 10,000 cold meals every day as needed using the Metropolitan Ministries commercial kitchen as their main distribution hub. They will also support local hunger relief programs while they are here. The organization's main hub at 165 E Frances Ave. in Tampa has food boxes, bottled water and power for phone charging. To help, sign up to volunteer at metromin.org. You can also go there to find out how to donate nonperishable food items, bottled water or to donate to the Hurricane Relief Fund.

Salvation Army: From Florida to Puerto Rico, the Salvation Army is providing food, drinks, shelter, emotional and spiritual care and other emergency services to hurricane survivors and rescue workers. All proceeds from every donation made to the organization's disaster services are applied to the disaster relief operation selected. To donate, go to give.helpsalvationarmy.org.

Rebuilding Together: Having previously helped communities after Hurricane Katrina, Sandy, Harvey and more, Rebuilding Together TampaCentral Florida and North Central Florida - the affiliates of the national organization - are already on the ground helping neighbors in Florida rebuild and recover from the effects of Hurricane Ian. They have set up a fundraising page, rebuildingtogether.org/hurricane-ian, where 100% of funds given go to the impacted communities.

Feeding Tampa Bay: The organization has set up numerous food distribution sites in the Tampa Bay area and also is coordinating with food pantries in the more heavily damaged areas of Southwest Florida. You can volunteer or find ways to donate food at feedingtampabay.org/how-you-can-help.

CORE: A global response organization supporting underserved communities after crises, CORE is coordinating with local partners and government to support the communities in Florida most impacted by Hurricane Ian. To donate, go to donate.coreresponse.org.

All Hands and Hearts: This nonprofit organization is committed to tracking and responding to natural hazards, storms and disasters around the world, including earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and more. They work alongside residents of impacted areas to deploy groups of volunteers known as DART (Disaster Assessment Response) teams. To make a donation, go to give.allhandsandhearts.org.

RELATED: Glazer family, Tom Brady make donations to assist Hurricane Ian victims

GlobalGiving: This nonprofit supports other nonprofits by connecting them to donors and companies, including communities throughout Florida and in Cuba. It has launched the Hurricane Ian Relief Fund. It aims to help meet emergency needs, such as food, water and shelter, and it will provide long-term support in affected communities. globalgiving.org.

Florida Disaster Fund: This public-private partnership has been set up at volunteerflorida.org/donatefdf. You can also text DISASTER to 20222, or mail a check to the Volunteer Florida Foundation at 1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 250, Tallahassee, FL 32308. "Make a donation or donate your time, but don't send a lot of stuff," Gov. Ron DeSantis said.

CARE: The Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) is responding to emergency needs after Hurricane Ian made landfall south of Tampa Bay. They are currently distributing emergency cash assistance to families so they can address urgent needs: water, food and emergency shelter. To make a donation, go to care.org.

211 Tampa Bay Cares: The volunteer organization provides financial and emotional assistance to Tampa Bay-area individuals and families suffering from job loss, depression, incredible stress, hunger, homelessness, financial strain, health challenges, seasonal storms and more. To make a donation or learn more, go to 211tampabay.org.

Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund: The fund, administered through the Pinellas Community Foundation, is a collaboration of four philanthropic partners to mobilize quickly in emergencies. Visit pinellascf.org/TBRF or call 727-531-0058. The fund is being administered by unitedwaysuncoast.org. Call 813-274-0900 for information.

Direct Relief: The global humanitarian aid organization has a long history of responding to hurricanes in Florida. Teams have been in daily communication with the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, as well as Florida Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster to assess and respond to medical aid and supplies that are needed to serve the state's most vulnerable populations. To donate, go to directrelief.org.

PayPal's Giving Fund: PayPal's Hurricane Ian Relief Campaign is raising funds for charities that are providing resources and assistance to affected areas, including American Red Cross, Direct Relief, Save The Children, AmeriCares Foundation, GlobalGiving Foundation and World Central Kitchen. To donate, go to paypal.com/fundraiser/119147482333313104.

Operation Helping Hands: United Way Miami and Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald have activated Operation Helping Hands to support the response, rebuilding and recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Ian in Florida and other areas that may be impacted by this powerful storm. To donate, go to portal.unitedwaymiami.org.

GoFundMe: centralized hub housing all verified fundraisers related to Hurricane Ian and its subsequent storms has been established on GoFundMe. The hub will be constantly updated as fundraisers are created and verified. Among them are Hurricane Ian Relief - Southeastern Grocers to help fellow associates affected by Hurricane Ian. Also World Central Kitchen, which is preparing hot meals to distribute to those impacted and the Salvation Army, which, in addition to food, is providing drinks, shelter, emotional and spiritual care and other emergency services. You can find the hub at gofundme.com/c/act/hurricane-relief/ian.

AMPLIFY Hope: To help aid in the Hurricane Ian recovery efforts, AMPLIFY Clearwater has launched AMPLIFY Hope, a recovery fund focused on providing disaster relief assistance to the communities devastated by the storm. To make a donation, go to AMPLIFYHopeFL.com.

St. Pete Shakes Play: St. Pete Shakes presents three performances of William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night: or What You Will" at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7-9 in Williams Park, 350 Second Ave, N, St. Petersburg. All performances are free, but donations will be collected with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Hurricane Ian recovery efforts in Fort Myers.

Operation BBQ Relief: Armed with a caravan of cooks, mobile pits, kitchens and volunteers, the operation feeds first responders and communities affected by natural disasters along with year-round efforts to fight hunger. They have deployed in Florida. You can volunteer or donate at operationbbqrelief.org.

Donation drive: St. Pete Running Company is collecting donations of cleanup supplies, pet food and water. They are taking donations at the store through Monday Oct. 3 at their evening run at 6:30 p.m. 6986 22nd Ave N, St. Petersburg. Find information and a list of desired items on the store's Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/p/CjK2ESwMkFN/?hl=en.


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