Community Disaster Relief Fund seeks to aid flood victims

The Southwest Florida Disaster Relief Fund has been activated to coordinate fundraising efforts in our community.

Nearly 500 people, many who are children, remain indefinitely in the Estero Community Center because their homes have been flooded. Agencies such as The United Way, the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross are currently working with these individuals to help provide short-term food, clothing and shelter.

This fund, administered by the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, is a flexible fund that remains inactive until needed. When a storm or other natural disaster arises, almost every bank and trust company, the two largest daily newspapers, a cable company, almost every television station, and almost every radio station joins forces to collect funds so that relief aid can be distributed almost immediately to the areas that need it the most.

Because the flood waters in Bonita Springs have not yet receded, the American Red Cross and county officials have not been able to get into the affected communities to do a damage assessment, which is delaying the availability of funding for families. Financial support for front line agencies such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army has been diluted because Tropical Storm Fay significantly impacted other areas of the state as well. With Hurricane Gustav headed into the Gulf, funding streams to frontline agencies will potentially be even more diluted once Gustav makes landfall. For these reasons, financial donations are needed from the community to assist with the recovery effort, with the most critical issue being longterm housing for families.

This fund was in place during Katrina to help the refugees that arrived in our area raising $586,000 and again when Wilma struck Southwest Florida that time raising nearly $192,000.

To donate to the SWFL Community Foundation Disaster Relief & Recovery Fund, take donations to any of the following banks or trust companies: Bank of the Islands/Edison National Bank, Community Bank of Cape Coral, Colonial Bank, Fine- Mark National Bank and Trust, First Community Bank of Southwest Florida, Florida Gulf Bank, Key Bank, Northern Trust (Fort Myers and Bonita Springs), San-Cap Community Bank, and Southwest Capital Bank.

Mail checks to Disaster Relief Fund, Southwest Florida Community Foundation, 8260 College Parkway, Suite 101, Fort Myers, FL33919.