Rapid Response and Relief Post Hurricane Ian

In November, Shreveport Volunteer Network, a volunteer group based out of Louisiana who owns a land-clearing business and in 2020 started a nonprofit to help post-disaster, received a $20,000 grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Hurricane Ian Recovery Initiative. The grant is providing debris removal services, repairs, and supplies to individuals impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Shreveport Volunteer Network has been instrumental in helping individuals in Myakka City, Arcadia, and Nocatee. They arrived right after the storm and did not wait to start helping. They have removed trees from homes and assisted a 92-year-old woman with demolishing her home and removing a tree, as FEMA awarded a trailer for her. They have delivered over 430,000 pounds of supplies to Hurricane Ian victims in the Myakka City area. The organization focuses on the elderly. They run chainsaws every day, help with tarping, and more. Shreveport does the heavy work that prevents people from moving forward in their lives. The goal is to remove the destruction caused by the hurricane.

Shreveport’s President Keith Bryant shared, “What an experience we’ve had in Florida! …So far we’ve sent 430,000 pounds of supplies that have been distributed to nine different points of distribution. We started distributing goods out of Myakka Family Worship Center, as well. I would estimate over 100,000 pounds of disaster relief supplies have been distributed so far from that point alone.” 

As the stories pour in from our Hurricane Ian initiative grant recipients, our hearts are filled to see the encouraging aid and transformational support for those in need.