PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Today, First Lady Casey DeSantis traveled to Murdock Baptist Church in Port Charlotte to deliver hot meals and meet with people impacted by Hurricane Ian. First Lady DeSantis was joined by Southern Baptist State Director David Coggins.

“It is heartening to see communities come together to help neighbors and friends in need,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “I am proud of our faith-based organizations that have traveled from across the state to deliver help and hope. Floridians are resilient, and today I saw that first-hand through the simple act of delivering a hot meal.”

The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has partnered with churches in Southwest Florida to serve up to 160,000 meals per day. The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief’s compassion ministry, Send Relief, has been delivering meals to volunteers to serve impacted Floridians following Hurricane Ian. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief meal site locations currently open include:

• Murdock Baptist Church: 18375 Cochran Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33948
• Calvary Baptist Church: 48 N 15th Avenue, Arcadia, FL 34266
• New Hope Baptist Church: 431 Nicholas Pkwy E., Cape Coral, FL 33990
• First Baptist Church Naples: 3000 Orange Blossom Dr., Naples, FL 34109
• First Baptist Church Venice: 312 Miami Ave W, Venice, FL 34285
• Riverside Baptist Church: 8660 Daniels Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL 33912
• Crossroads Baptist Church: 10721 Palm Beach Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33905

Additional locations opening Tuesday, October 4, include:

• McGregor Baptist Church: 3750 Colonial Blvd., Fort Meyers, FL 33966
• First Baptist Church Wauchula: 1570 W Main St., Wauchula, FL 33873

Floridians wishing to volunteer can visit Volunteer Florida’s webpage  to find opportunities to distribute meals, help with debris clean up, and assist with other needs through Volunteer Connect.

First Lady DeSantis continues to encourage Florida’s private partners and faith-based organizations to contribute resources to aid in Hurricane Ian recovery. Additionally, organizations that would like to financially contribute can do so through the Florida Disaster Fund. Over $22 million has already been raised and is being distributed to those directly impacted and in need of immediate assistance.

To contribute to the Florida Disaster Fund, please visit http://www.FloridaDisasterFund.org or text DISASTER to 20222.

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