Florida Hurricane Fund Announces Goodwill $1 Million In-Kind Donation

Florida Hurricane Relief Fund managers have announced a $1 million in-kind donation from Goodwill Industries of Florida to provide hurricane survivors with clothing and household items as recovery continues. The fund was established by Governor Jeb Bush to assist Florida’s hurricane survivors with needs not met by federal, state, and insurance assistance. It is managed by nonprofit Volunteer Florida Foundation.

“As we join together in the effort to rebuild, it is evident that four walls and a roof do not complete a home,” Liza McFadden, VFF president, which manages the fund said. “Goodwill’s tremendous donation will help hurricane survivors replace the contents of their homes and help them get their lives back on track.”

Donations will be given through vouchers administered by qualifying nonprofits. Nonprofits that are actively engaged in disaster relief efforts and have an established network of case managers are encouraged to apply through the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund and serve as agents for Floridians in need. Deadline for application by nonprofits is March 17. Applications are available at www.flahurricanefund.org.

“Although we are not a relief organization, Florida is our home and Floridians are our neighbors,” said Fred Shelfer, president of the Florida association of the 10 regional Goodwill operations statewide and president of the Tallahassee region. “Goodwill Industries is a job training organization that uses the sale of donated goods to help fund our training programs. All of our area CEOs agreed to make our collection, distribution system, and our stores available to help hurricane survivors through in-kind donations. We are honored to help.”

To date, the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund has received slightly over $19 million in cash donations. Allocations from the Fund are based on FEMA filings, with the hardest hit counties during the 2004 hurricane season receiving the greatest percentage of funds. Allocations from the Fund are being made in phases to help communities, many hit multiple times, assess unmet needs on an ongoing basis as restoration progresses.

Topics Florida Catastrophe Natural Disasters Hurricane