As the summer came to a close, our nonprofit ecosystem hummed along on the strength of its roots. Now, those roots would be tested by the largest, most powerful hurricane to hit our region in decades.
With sustained winds of over 150 mph, Hurricane Ian challenged the resiliency of our nonprofit ecosystem. Inspired by mangrove forests—whose roots support each other—our partners facilitated relief efforts across the region. Simply put, they came through when they were needed the most.
Following a storm, a hot, nutritious meal fuels renewal. Our partners teamed up and made a big impact in the immediate wake of the hurricane by providing food to those in need.
With public schools closed and many preschools damaged, childcare became a critical challenge for everyone. YMCA of Southwest Florida stepped up to the challenge despite many of their staff facing personal loss from the storm. The Y temporarily hired preschool teachers from centers that were closed and welcomed new families to their school who needed care.
Post Hurricane Ian, our nonprofit partners demonstrated the ability to move from disaster to relief and then quickly to recovery. Collaborative relationships proved to be invaluable.
The storm’s impact also made it difficult for our healthcare partners to deliver care in the region. With Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation leading a team of community partners, solutions were found that ensured little to no interruption in their vital work.
