AmeriCorps CEO Presents President’s Volunteer Service Award to Inspiritus Volunteer

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Dear friend,

Yesterday, Inspiritus Disaster Relief Volunteer, Philip DeRitis, was awarded the Gold President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award by AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith. This award is in recognition of more than 650 hours of volunteer service Phil has given to his community through his work with Inspiritus.

Established in 2003, the President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes the important role of volunteers in America's strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities and inspires those around them to take action, too.

The PVSA has continued under each administration, honoring the volunteers who are using their time and talents to solve some of the toughest challenges facing our nation.

Below Video: Michael Hudak WINK News

Philip DeRitis is one of these individuals.

Phil served all 650+ hours in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. As a storm survivor himself, his motivation to help bring his fellow community members home was personal.

Phil was teaching at a local tennis club when it was forced to close after being destroyed by Hurricane Ian. He lost his home, car and job to the storm. Rather than leave the area, he chose to volunteer with Inspiritus to help others impacted by the devastation.

Phil has inspired so many people that he has been named lead volunteer, and provides training to other volunteers to effectively muck and gut, provide mold sanitation services and complete small home repairs. In addition to his on-the-ground support, he has assisted with administrative tasks and tool and inventory management.

Phil DeRitis receives President’s Volunteer Service Award. Click image above to watch now.

“Anyone who works with Philip walks away with a new skill and a profound sense of hope,” said AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith. “Not only has he become the go-to volunteer to solve problems, he also embodies the spirit of service communities like Fort Myers’ needs to move forward after disasters. On behalf of AmeriCorps, thank you for volunteering your time and showing that service is a uniting force.”

Even in the aftermath, Phil said his heart remained steadfast and strong as ever.

"It takes faith. To me, it's just about doing the right thing...and having general care and concern for your neighbors."

Inspiritus Disaster Relief teams remain on the ground in Fort Myers, FL empowering storm survivors on their road to recovery by providing free social & emotional support, debris removal, muck & gut, chainsaw, mold sanitation and heavy equipment services.

If you would like to volunteer and join Phil, and the rest of our team on the ground, click here.

If you would like to make a monetary contribution to support our relief efforts, visit www.weinspirit.org/donate

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

 

Message from the CEO

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Dear Friend,

I write to you to share reflections from my recent trip to the Long-Term Recovery Disaster Zones in both Waverly, Tennessee and Mayfield, Kentucky where Inspiritus teams are still actively helping survivors recover more than a year after the storms.

How is the recovery going? I love that question. It indicates that people realize that people and communities are still hurting following the devastating effects of a storm.

The Tennessean reported: The floods were trigged by up to 17 inches of rain falling in just one day. The rain shattered the state record for daily rainfall and sent rivers and creeks surging over their boundaries. According to local officials, a total of 20 people were killed during Middle Tennessee's severe storms and extreme flash floods.

It has been well over a year since the massive flood in Waverly brought a wall of water down Main Street that crashed into Diane’s cute little house. Her son was home that night when the trestle gave way sending a tidal wave hurtling through the town of Waverly, Tennessee, a quaint community one hour west of Nashville. Her son quickly ran upstairs with the dogs and cats and climbed out onto the roof of the house as rescue personnel, helicopters, and boats made their way to their street. They were preparing to rescue him when the young man saw their 87 year-old next-door neighbor through the window standing in his house in chest deep water. The young man on the roof pointed the rescuers to help the man in the house instead.

More than a year later, these two neighbors are still traumatized by the events of that night. Every time it rains, Diane finds herself glued to weather news, wondering, and worrying for her safety and that of her dogs. She wonders if she should leave and head for higher ground. Despite the house being ready for move-in, the next-door neighbor has been unable to return. She wonders if he also still hears the screams of the young mother in the house behind them crying out to anyone who could help, “Please save my baby! Please! Save my baby!!!”

During the Long-Term Recovery, which in many cases can take years, Inspiritus provides free construction management services to homeowners who cannot afford to repair their own home properly. Working with volunteers and skilled trades, Inspiritus helps the homeowner manage the construction project until completion, making sure that even the smallest of details, such as that every nail hole is filled, and the paint job is done to the satisfaction of the homeowner. Along the way, Inspiritus staff and volunteers also support the homeowner and their own healing process.

When I inquired this week, neighbors one street over from Diane said that they still aren’t doing well a year and a half after the flood. Margie and Gene still ponder nearly drowning that night. Gene, age 80, was trapped inside the house. Margie, age 68, attempted to go for help. She recounted the miracle of not drowning in her own back yard.

AFTER THE STORM:

Personal belongings from Margie and Gene’s home (photographed July 2021). Everything had to go...it was heartbreaking

AFTER INSPIRITUS CAME IN AND HELPED:

Margie and Gene’s street after Inspiritus helped them return their home to its former glory (photographed December 2022)

As if that wasn’t enough, it was the events following the flood that brought them to their proverbial knees. The day after the storm, their home was burglarized by looters and on the third day they received notification from their insurance company that their homeowners’ policy had been canceled. However, they literally kept their heads down, working daily scrubbing and re-scrubbing their floors to get the mud out of their house. At some point, once the adrenaline had passed, Margie recalled falling into despair as she wondered what their fate would be. She remembers days where she wasn’t able to get out of bed due to waves of depression.

Somehow, she learned about Inspiritus and mustered the energy to call. Ever since that day, Inspiritus has been on the job, committed to returning her home to its former glory. With their small life savings, she and her husband invested funding into stabilizing the foundation of their house. However, that left no money for the huge repairs that remained. Then they met RJ and Robert. RJ and Robert are the dynamic duo of Inspiritus construction managers assigned to the home. They are helping Margie and Gene manage the renovation project with funds raised by Inspiritus. It’s a historic home that has been in Margie’s family since it was built in 1913. First, the home had to be mucked, gutted, and sanitized to prevent the mold.

Left to Right - RJ (Inspiritus), Margie & Gene (homeowners), Robert, Kevin & John Moeller (Inspiritus)

Teams of professionals and staff have been in the house every week since. The day I was there, volunteers were painting the inside of the house from top to bottom. Seeing the progress brought joy to Margie’s face, and I could hear hope in her voice. A year and a half after the storm, she is allowing herself to begin to look forward to moving back in. While they lost everything in the flood, including many family heirlooms and sentimental items, they celebrate that at least they have a mattress and box spring, and a small plastic table and chairs from Walmart that will give them a place to enjoy meals.

Margie admits that she didn’t realize how damaged SHE was in the storm. There continue to be days that she is caught off guard by a range of emotions that arise within her when she realizes what she has lost. She described a recent experience where she was ready to pull a casserole out of the oven, and in the heat of the moment, realized she didn’t even have any potholders. They were another casualty of the flood. She found herself enraged that at this stage in her life, she didn’t even own potholders. That’s not to mention all the other things that have been lost, like trips and vacations that she and Gene were looking forward to taking in retirement with their nest egg, which has been completely wiped out.

Despite all of that, she finds hope beginning to dwell inside her again. She put it this way to me, “Inspiritus is not merely repairing our house, they are helping us heal our lives. We are grateful to know that they won’t leave until we are whole.” I’m glad she sees it that way because that is our aim. After all, the Inspiritus mission is to guide individuals and families on a path from surviving to thriving. Inspiritus empowers those whose lives have been disrupted to realize their strength and resilience and accompanies them all along the way.

However, I am stunned by how hard this work is and how long it takes. Saturday, December 10th marked the one-year anniversary of the winter tornado that struck Mayfield, Kentucky. I have been there several times over the last year to support our team and check on the community’s progress. This week, I was stunned by how much work still remains. Entire neighborhoods remain vacant ghost towns. Full city blocks of homes have been scraped, the debris removed, and all that remains are concrete slabs and house numbers out front. It’s reminiscent of a moonscape. However, when I talk to residents, the Inspiritus team, and those who have survived, I get a completely different picture. They smile with hope and say all kinds of progress is being made. Homes are being repaired, people are returning to the neighborhood, and the city is drawing up a master plan for a revitalized city.

A tribute to the children, women and men who perished on the night of the deadly storm. Behind the sign once stood a stately, yet modern courthouse. It was completely destroyed in the storm.

An entire neighborhood once filled the frame of this photo. Today, nothing remains but concrete slabs, and memories. The good news is that city is committed to rebuilding. In the foreground, there is a memorial garden. Those baby trees will someday grow up to provide shade to the grandchildren and great grandchildren of the storm. Nothing about this storm will ever be a distant memory.

Clarissa was one particular resident that Inspiritus has helped. She recounted to me how she was a renter when the tornado hit, and on the day after the storm, her landlord informed her that he did not have homeowners’ insurance. It was the second devastating blow in two days. Not only was the home she lived in severely damaged, but there was no hope of it being repaired. However, over the course of the year, she was able to secure a title to the property from the struggling homeowner. Friends, neighbors, and members of the faith community have rallied around her, and Inspiritus just completed the final repairs to her house this week. While it’s been a struggle, she and her grandson are finally happily living in the house that she says, “love built.”

Left to Right - Colin, Sandra, Clarissa (homeowner), Kevin and John in front of the “house that love built”. Inspiritus partners with homeowners to help them rebuild following a storm. Clarissa is one of the fortunate ones. Literally hundreds of individuals and families remain in limbo. A full 1/4 of the population of the city has all but disappeared from the area.

If you are reading this, I hope you will prayerfully consider making a gift to help survivors like these.

Sincerely,




 


Rev. John R. Moeller, Jr.
President & CEO of Inspiritus

Hurricane Ian Survivors & Helpers

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Uplifting Unsung Heroes

Disaster Volunteers

“To be a Disaster Relief volunteer is part of being a humanitarian. We have to be there to support our communities and to support the people around us… whether those people are part of our community or not. Why not put that goodwill out there and make a difference if we can?”

-Cammie Cooley,
Inspiritus Disaster Relief Volunteer

Strength in Community 

Disaster Partners

Inspiritus Disaster Response teams will be on the ground in Fort Myers, FL through February 2023. Your help is still needed. Join incredible volunteers like Cammie who are on the ground with Hurricane Ian storm survivors facing a long road to recovery. From gutting homes and clearing debris to creating meaningful connections with disaster survivors and fellow volunteers, donating your hearts, hands, and time with Inspiritus Disaster Relief can positively impact your life and the lives of those impacted by this devastating storm. 

If you are available to volunteer for a few hours, days or weeks, our incredible team is looking forward to meeting you! All skill levels are welcomed and training is provided. Learn more or sign up to volunteer here: www.weinspirit.org/drvolunteers.

Our partners at ToolBank USA, deploy staff and trailers filled with tools that help community-based organizations, like Inspiritus, respond faster. They have provided over $340K worth of tools (at no cost) to organizations across Florida to aid in the disaster relief efforts. The tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) that the ToolBank provides our teams are especially critical during large-scale relief efforts like Hurricane Ian. Their continued support helps us meet the needs of Disaster Survivors who do not have the resources to clean up and repair their homes on their own.

If your organization is looking for ways to help, contact Sherry Buresh, Executive Director of Disaster Relief programs at Sherry.Buresh@weinspirit.org

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Your support will empower Hurricane Ian survivors to receive assistance right now, when it’s desperately needed. Prayerfully consider joining us, in whatever way is right for you-- in your hearts, in your actions, and in your prayers.

DONATE

Donate to Inspiritus: The more funding we raise, the longer our teams can stay on the ground continuing to help homeowners impacted by the Hurricane. You can help storm Survivors receive much needed help: Social, Emotional, & Spiritual Care, Muck & Gut services to remove water damage from their homes, Roof Tarps, Chainsawing, Debris Removal, and even Heavy Equipment Assistance. 

VOLUNTEER

This work would not be possible without hundreds of HEROIC volunteers, and supporters like you.

Prayerfully consider joining us in SW Florida now through the end of February 2023. We especially need Team Leads to guide volunteer groups with Muck & Gut and Debris Removal, but all hands are welcome, and all skills can be helpful. Please call the Volunteer Hotline at (239) 560-1554 or visit www.WeInspirit.org/drvolunteers to learn more.

SHARE STORIES

We invite you to share, follow and like us on your favorite platform below and learn more about the people impacted by this storm and how neighbors and strangers alike, can make a difference.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareinspiritus/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/weareinspiritus

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/inspiritus-inc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/weareinspiritus

We are grateful for your compassion and commitment to empower individuals on their path from Surviving to thriving.



Sincerely,
Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

#Inspiritus #SurvivingToThriving #HurricaneIan #DisasterRelief

Uplifting Unsung Heroes: Disaster Volunteers

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Disaster relief volunteers are the heartbeat of our work. Whether you’re new to Disaster Relief volunteering or have experienced multiple deployments, there is always a place for you. Nikki Membrere joined us this year during the Eastern Kentucky flooding and then again with Hurricane Ian in SW Florida. Like many volunteers, Nikki was compelled to help where needed. Our teams trained and supported her in volunteer coordination on the ground and in helping us conduct background checks remotely. She traveled cross-country-- from California to Florida-- to help Survivors who's lives have been turned upside down by a disaster. In the video below, she describes the ways you can join us in helping the many individuals and families still on their road to recovery.

For more information on how you can help, visit www.WeInspirit.org/drvolunteers.

"When you put things into perspective, especially hearing and seeing all these stories that have happened to everyday people...it makes you feel appreciative of everything you have, especially when you're not in the situation and on the other side."

-Nikki Membrere,
Inspiritus Disaster Volunteer

Strength in Community 

Disaster Partners

We cannot do this work without the individuals and organizations that join us from near and far in delivering life-saving tools, resources and help.

Tunnel to Towers Foundation (T2T) is one of our incredible partners that is dedicated to making a lasting impact in communities recovering from a disaster. The critical supplies and funding they donate to Inspiritus helps us meet many of the needs Survivors face in the aftermath of large-scale storms, like Hurricane Ian. Just last week, they organized a fundraiser in Fort Myers, FL to help extend our Response efforts so more individuals and families can get the help they need.

Thanks to the efforts of T2T and supporters like you, we will be on the ground until February 2023!

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Your support will empower Hurricane Ian survivors to receive assistance right now, when it’s desperately needed. Prayerfully consider joining us, in whatever way is right for you-- in your hearts, in your actions, and in your prayers. 

DONATE

Donate to Inspiritus: The more funding we raise, the longer our teams can stay on the ground continuing to help homeowners impacted by the Hurricane. You can help storm Survivors receive much needed help: Social, Emotional and Spiritual Care, Muck & Gut services to remove water damage from their homes, Roof Tarps, Chainsawing, Debris Removal, and even Heavy Equipment Assistance.

VOLUNTEER

This work would not be possible without hundreds of HEROIC volunteers, and supporters like you.

Prayerfully consider joining us in SW Florida now through November 23. We especially need Team Leads to guide volunteer groups with Muck & Gut and Debris Removal, but all hands are welcome, and all skills can be helpful. Please call the Volunteer Hotline at (239) 560-1554 or visit www.WeInspirit.org/drvolunteers to learn more.

SHARE STORIES

We invite you to share, follow and like us on your favorite platform below and learn more about the people impacted by this storm and how neighbors and strangers alike, can make a difference.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareinspiritus/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/weareinspiritus

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/inspiritus-inc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/weareinspiritus

We are grateful for your compassion and commitment to empower individuals on their path from Surviving to thriving.



Sincerely,
Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

#Inspiritus #SurvivingToThriving #HurricaneIan #DisasterRelief

Hurricane Ian Survivors and Helpers

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STRENGTH, FAITH & RESILIENCY 

Hurricane Ian Storm Survivors

Response teams know, first hand, how especially hard natural disasters are on vulnerable members of the community. WINK News recently covered the impact of Hurricane Ian on the Benedettis, one of the many Island Park residents that Inspiritus' Disaster teams helped in response to Hurricane Ian. The couple decided to stay home and wait out the storm as the wife had just completed surgery.

Their experience reminds us how challenging it is for some people to evacuate, including elderly, medically-fragile and under-resourced individuals, not to mention, the daunting task of navigating the devastation, needs and resources after a storm hits. Their story reflects the strength, faith and resiliency that many Survivors learn to lean into in the wake of vast loss and destruction.

UPLIFTING UNSUNG HEROES 

Disaster Volunteers

Basecamp meals are essential to uplifting hard working volunteers before and after each workday... Rex Rothrock, knows this well. Through his family foundation, Rothrock Foundation, Rex passionately helps Disaster Survivors by making sure volunteer responders are well fed and nourished, in body and soul.

After a disaster hits, Rex joins in service with Inspiritus' Disaster teams and camps in the volunteer basecamp for weeks and even months on end, when he is able. We are incredibly grateful for his commitment to helping disaster survivors and supporting the volunteers that give so much of their time, talent and hearts in service to individuals that need it the most.  

HOW YOU CAN HELP

DONATE

Donate to Inspiritus: The more funding we raise, the longer our teams can stay on the ground continuing to help homeowners impacted by the Hurricane. Your support will provide free debris removal, muck & gut services and water purification to help families affected by the storm, especially those who can't recover without help.

VOLUNTEER

This work would not be possible without hundreds of HEROIC volunteers, and supporters like you.

Prayerfully consider joining us in Fort Myers, FL now through November 23. We especially need Team Leads to guide volunteer groups with Muck & Gut and Debris Removal, but all hands are welcome, and all skills can be helpful. Please call the Volunteer Hotline at (239) 560-1554 or visit www.WeInspirit.org/drvolunteers to learn more.

SHARE STORIES

We invite you to share, follow and like us on your favorite platform below and learn more about the people impacted by this storm and how neighbors and strangers alike, can make a difference.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareinspiritus/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/weareinspiritus

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/inspiritus-inc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/weareinspiritus

Please join us in uplifting all those impacted by storms and those helping Survivors recover. We are grateful for your compassion and commitment to empower individuals on their path from Surviving to Thriving.



Sincerely,
Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

#Inspiritus #SurvivingToThriving #HurricaneIan #DisasterRelief

Day 28: Hurricane Ian Updates

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Dear Friend,

When disasters strike, they leave trails of catastrophic destruction, instantly uprooting the lives of millions of people each year. Once the cameras leave and the news stories trickle to a stop, what many don't see is the grueling and costly journey Survivors experience for months and often years after a disaster hits. Between 15-75 percent of people who experience a natural disaster later develop PTSD. Natural disasters can also worsen existing physical and mental health conditions and disproportionately impact children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and under-resourced and underinsured individuals. 

Nearly 30 days after Hurricane Ian's landfall, our teams are witnessing the trauma and mental/social anguish continuing to increase for many residents and survivors. Community members are grappling with the surmounting feeling of loss and grief and the reality of the long road ahead. 

“They don’t have any food, they don’t have a dry bed to sleep in, their socks, their clothes, their underwear…everything is soaked. People couldn’t even find their cars. One person lost two cars…but they didn’t know where they floated to.” (Mary Ann Roberts, Inspiritus Disaster Relief Volunteer)

This is why it's critical for our teams to take extra care of not just a Survivor's home and belongings, but the person impacted. This is where resiliency and recovery begins-- the people. Survivors receive spiritual, emotional, and social support from trained staff and volunteers. This is important work that uplifts the soul and often gives them the strength to go on as they navigate the difficult road ahead of them.

Homeowners also receive much needed assistance with their damaged homes from Inspiritus trained volunteers, who help them to salvage their personal belongings from the rubble, provide quality controlled muck & gutting (comparable to that of paid contractors), and mold remediation. These free, high quality services by volunteer teams help each homeowner save a life-changing $25,000-$50,000!

In response to the growing need, Inspiritus teams have expanded their work on the ground to over 8 communities in and around the Fort Myers area (Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, Arcadia, Royal Woods, Harlem Heights, Fort Myers Beach, and Pine Island). We are grateful for groups and individuals like you, who come together to help bring care and hope to Survivors. 

It will continue to take the efforts of countless supporters like you to help affected residents rebuild their lives.

Inspiritus, New York City Firefighters, The Home Depot Foundation and Tunnel to Towers teams came together to help a Survivor whose house was destroyed by Hurricane Ian. The homeowner is a U.S. Navy Veteran who suffered a disability in Afghanistan, now facing the devastating loss of his home and a lifetime of family memories and belongings.

WHAT WE ARE DOING (Day 28 Update)

Inspiritus saves each homeowner an average of $25k-$50k in costs during a Response. Our current Hurricane Ian impact:

  • 1,000+ Individuals served

  • 100+ Volunteers in the field, each day currently

  • 5,770+ Volunteer Hours served

  • 19 Debris Removal jobs

  • 35 Muck & Gut jobs

  • 6 Roof Tarping jobs

  • 14 Chainsaw jobs

We work with a diverse range of volunteers, partners and donors to ensure individuals get the help they need and that volunteers are well trained and equipped to provide the necessary support. Our work includes:

  • Capacity Building: Inspiritus staff are partnering with local emergency and city/county officials to build local disaster response capacity, providing expert disaster response advisement. While staff are actively supporting operations in Fort Myers, they are also actively providing advisement to leaders in other towns and counties to help them assess and manage the people and resources they need. Towards the end of our Response, Inspiritus staff will advise and support the development of Long-Term Recovery planning and committees.

  • Assistance Hotline (FL): To better serve homeowners impacted by Hurricane Ian in the Fort Myers and surrounding areas, a hotline number has been setup to receive requests from impacted homeowners for assistance and aid.

  • Volunteer Housing: Inspiritus has setup volunteer housing at Anthem Church - Fort Myers, with the capacity to accommodate 50-80 overnight volunteers daily.

  • Spontaneous & Network Volunteer Management: We are directly coordinating and managing Spontaneous Volunteers and volunteers from our Partner Network. This collaborative Network includes volunteer teams and leads partnering with Inspiritus from local and national faith groups and partners. Passionate solo volunteers are an essential part of this network as well. More volunteers are needed to ensure all homes receive help. Join us!

  • Home Assessments, Heavy Equipment, Debris Removal, Muck & Gut, Quality Control, Roof Tarping and Mold Sanitation: Volunteers are conducting home assessments and are providing Muck & Gut, Debris Removal, Roof Tarping and Mold Sanitation work for local residents’ homes where it's safe to enter. Teams are also being deployed to areas needing chainsaw and heavy equipment support.

  • Social & Emotional Support: Disasters can affect a Survivor's physical and emotional well-being. They disrupt everyday life by displacing individuals and families, destroying homes, and splintering communities. Inspiritus' volunteer teams and community partners are providing emotional care, spiritual guidance and critical resources to help impacted individuals in and around the Fort Myers area recover stronger.

  • Water Purification: Inspiritus volunteers are providing locals with access to clean water thanks to WaterStep, who donated Water on Wheels Carts (WOW Carts) to help communities that have lost access to safe drinking water due to disaster damages.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

DONATE

Donate to Inspiritus: The more funding we raise, the longer our teams can stay on the ground continuing to help homeowners impacted by the Hurricane. Your support will provide free debris removal, muck & gut services and water purification to help families affected by the storm, especially those who can't recover without help.

VOLUNTEER

This work would not be possible without hundreds of HEROIC volunteers, including those who have driven in locally, as well as Team Leads who have come in from around the country and are living in Fort Myers, FL at our local Volunteer Housing Camp.

Prayerfully consider joining us in Fort Myers, FL now through November 23. We especially need Team Leads to guide volunteer groups with Muck & Gut and Debris Removal, but all hands are welcome, and all skills can be helpful. Please call the Volunteer Hotline at (239) 560-1554 or visit www.WeInspirit.org/drvolunteers to learn more.

SHARE STORIES

We invite you to share, follow and like us on your favorite platform below and learn more about the people impacted by this storm and how neighbors and strangers alike, can make a difference.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareinspiritus/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/weareinspiritus

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/inspiritus-inc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/weareinspiritus

OUR PARTNERS

Inspiritus is grateful for the individuals, congregations, and corporate teams from within the following organizations, for your help in this disaster:

We are collaborating extensively with community partners, including a diverse range of churches and businesses from the local area, and those traveling from communities as distant as California, the Bahamas, and the Carolinas to help disaster survivors in SW Florida. 

Thank you to all the Congregations and Individuals who are recruiting friends and family members to join us in service. This disaster relief effort is only possible because of your support (donations, volunteers, and/or professional expertise). Your generosity and compassion is making a difference.

Inspiritus partner, Missions On Wheels, is providing our disaster relief volunteers with a 7-unit portable shower trailer at no cost to our teams.

As we continue helping individuals and families in SW Florida, your prayers and support are deeply appreciated. Thank you for helping impacted communities find strength and resiliency during this difficult time. We will continue to keep you updated as the work progresses.



Sincerely,
Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

#Inspiritus #SurvivingToThriving #HurricaneIan #DisasterRelief

Day 19: Hurricane Ian Updates

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Dear Friend,

As you are aware, Hurricane Ian was considered one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the U.S., with max wind speeds of 155 mph. Ian caused catastrophic damage with losses currently estimated to reach $67 billion dollars. Damage was mostly from flooding, particularly impacting the cities of Fort Myers Beach and Naples, FL. Sections of Fort Myers were overwhelmed with a 15-foot storm surge, raging floodwaters and winds after the historic storm touched down as a high-level Category 4. Millions were left without power and water in the storm's wake, and many residents were forced to take refuge on their roofs or succumbed to drowning. In total, Hurricane Ian has caused at least 130 fatalities. 

Video: Fort Myers resident, Melinda Meyers on the the impact of Hurricane Ian on her home and how you can help residents devastated by the storm.

Inspiritus deployed a team to Fort Myers and plans to be on location for 8 weeks. We have been coordinating with local and state officials, as well as our partners to bring much needed help to impacted residents in and around the Fort Myers area, including the communities of Royal Woods, Harlem Heights, Pine Island and Little Gasparilla Island.  

Staff and volunteers have setup intake centers and have deployed assessment teams into these communities to determine the extent of support that will be need to help survivors on their path to thriving. Our teams are coordinating and providing Social & Emotional Support, Debris Removal, Muck & Gut, Chainsaw and Heavy Equipment services for the most vulnerable homeowners. Responders are seeing that the majority of survivors are highly vulnerable senior citizens who are especially overwhelmed and at severe risk now due to the catastrophic damages to their homes and lives. These seniors have low to modest income and exhibit high levels of both financial and emotional support needs due to underinsurance or resistance from their insurance companies.

There is an urgent need for assistance to continue the work of helping the individuals and families whose homes and lives were devastated. These families continue to be at risk as they remain exposed to life-threatening mold and severe damages in their homes. As we continue our response efforts in Florida, we will keep you updated on ways you can help.

WHAT WE ARE DOING (Day 19 Update)

  • Capacity Building: Inspiritus staff are partnering with local emergency and city/county officials to build local disaster response capacity, providing expert disaster response advisement. While staff are actively supporting operations in Fort Myers, they are also actively providing advisement to leaders in other towns and counties to help them assess and manage the people and resources they need. Towards the end of our Response, Inspiritus staff will advise and support the development of Long-Term Recovery planning and committees.

  • Assistance Hotline (FL): To better serve homeowners impacted by Hurricane Ian in the Fort Myers and surrounding areas, a hotline number has been setup to receive requests from impacted homeowners for assistance and aid.

  • Volunteer Housing: Inspiritus has setup volunteer housing at Anthem Church - Fort Myers, with the capacity to accommodate for 50-80 overnight volunteers daily.

  • Spontaneous & Network Volunteer Management: We are directly coordinating and managing Spontaneous Volunteers and volunteers from our Partner Network. This collaborative Network includes volunteer teams and leads partnering with Inspiritus from local and national faith groups and partners. Passionate solo volunteers are an essential part of this network as well. More volunteers are needed to ensure all homes receive help. Join us!

  • Home Assessments, Heavy Equipment, Debris Removal, Muck & Gut, Roof Tarping and Mold Sanitation: Volunteers are conducting home assessments and are providing Muck & Gut, Debris Removal, Roof Tarping and Mold Sanitation work for local residents’ homes where it's safe to enter. Teams are also being deployed to areas needing chainsaw and heavy equipment support.

  • Water Purification: Inspiritus volunteers are providing locals with access to clean water thanks to WaterStep, who donated Water on Wheels Carts (WOW Carts) to help communities that have lost access to safe drinking water due to disaster damages.

"...I marvel at those who answer the call and who give their all to ensure that individuals and families devastated by disaster have a fighting chance of moving from surviving to thriving." (Inspiritus' CEO, John Moeller, in his tribute to Volunteers)

HOW YOU CAN HELP

DONATE

Donate to Inspiritus: The more funding we raise, the longer our teams can stay on the ground continuing to help homeowners impacted by the Hurricane. Your support will provide free debris removal, muck & gut services and water purification to help families affected by the storm, especially those who can't recover without help.

VOLUNTEER

This work would not be possible without hundreds of HEROIC volunteers, including those who have driven in locally, as well as Team Leads who have come in from around the country and are living in Fort Myers, FL at our local Volunteer Housing Camp.

Prayerfully consider joining us in Fort Myers, FL now through November 23. We especially need Team Leads to guide volunteer groups with Muck & Gut and Debris Removal, but all hands are welcome, and all skills can be helpful. Please call the Volunteer Hotline at (239) 560-1554 or visit www.WeInspirit.org/drvolunteers to learn more.

SURVIVOR STORIES

We take extra care to lift-up the voices and stories of both survivors and helpers of each Response we go on. We invite you to follow us on your favorite platform below and learn more about the people impacted by this storm and how neighbors and strangers alike, can make a difference.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareinspiritus/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/weareinspiritus

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/inspiritus-inc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/weareinspiritus

OUR PARTNERS

Inspiritus is grateful for the individuals, congregations, and corporate teams from within the following organizations, for your help in this disaster:

This disaster relief effort is only possible because of the support (donations, volunteers, and/or professional expertise) provided from partners and supporters. Your generosity and compassion is making a difference.

Locally, we are collaborating extensively with local community partners, including a diverse range of local churches and businesses. Many of whom are providing care for our volunteers. Local partners are also sending their own volunteers to join us and shadow our disaster relief teams, in order to learn how to be prepared for the next storm and how to build local capacity and readiness. These local partners and volunteers are likely to develop to be key leaders in the Long-Term Recovery process, and Inspiritus is committed to empowering them.

Tunnel to Towers Foundation donated a truckload of much needed supplies (generators, fans, shop-vacs, tools, batteries, etc.) to help empower storm survivors in Fort Myers, FL.

Governor Ron DeSantis and his family came to witness the work on the ground and thank partners like ToolBank USA who has provided our team with the tools needed for a successful Response. Inspiritus' Construction Management Lead, Kevin Burgess, shown updating the Governor on the needs of impacted homeowners.

Anthem Church - Fort Myers has been providing their facility to house volunteers and to support our relief operations. The Sunday School kids tended to the hearts of volunteers with hand-written thank you notes.

Please continue to join us in prayer for those families impacted, and for the strength of the volunteers serving on the ground now. Thank you for your support!



Sincerely,
Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

#SurvivingToThriving #HurricaneIan #DisasterRelief

Hurricane Ian: Message from the CEO

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Hurricane Ian banner-Inspiritus

Dear Friend,

I am writing to you from the road. Today, I am journeying to Fort Myers, Florida, one of the epicenters of Hurricane Ian‘s landfall. I am bringing a much needed vehicle to the Inspiritus team that will be used to shuttle staff and volunteers around the area during our Response. Unfortunately, there are no rental vehicles to be found in South Florida right now. I’m also here to check on the team and survey our base of operations in SW Florida. My final goal is to gain an understanding of the magnitude of the devastation so that I may be a credible witness to the pain and suffering of those in the region.

I am grateful for our disaster services team’s quick thinking to pre-position resources in south Georgia last weekend to be ready to deploy this week. Thanks to the quick thinking, the team is already conducting assessments and deploying work crews this Tuesday afternoon in the Fort Myers area. I am also grateful for relationships with multiple church bodies that have provided local intelligence and hospitality that have enabled Inspiritus to establish a base of operations so quickly. Donations and financial commitments have poured in over the last couple of days, and the need is great. The Home Depot Foundation, Lowe’s, the Tunnels to Towers Foundation and individuals have generously committed significant funding to fuel the immediate response work. Lastly, I am humbled by the outpouring of people from all across the country who want to volunteer with Inspiritus in the aftermath of the storm. I look forward to shaking their hands and thanking them for their sacrifice and service to survivors of the storm.

Thank you for the meaningful ways you share your care and support as we accompany the most vulnerable among us. I ask that you might prayerfully consider donating to empower survivors to go from surviving to thriving: weinspirit.org/donate. As the days progress, I hope to provide further updates from ground zero.

 

                                                                       Sincerely,



Rev. John R. Moeller, Jr.
President & CEO,
Inspiritus

Hurricane Ian: Disaster Relief Update 1

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Zuram Rodriguez surveys the damage around her home in Davie, Florida, from winds believed to be fueled by Hurricane Ian early on Wednesday. Credit: Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP

Dear Friend,

Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall this afternoon in Southwest Florida. It is currently a very high Category 4 hurricane with winds reaching 155 mph with 20” or more of rain. The National Hurricane Center has warned of “life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flooding in the Florida Peninsula", with millions under evacuation orders. Significant river flooding is likely across central Florida with hurricane conditions hitting Florida’s west coast Wednesday into Thursday. Georgia and South Carolina are also anticipating significant rain and flooding later this week.

Owners board their Gulf Bistro Restaurant in St. Pete Beach Florida in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Ian. on Tuesday. Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Inspiritus’ disaster teams are currently staging in Georgia and preparing to respond where needed. While it is not yet clear precisely where Ian will land ashore, Inspiritus staff has been in touch with local officials and partnering organizations in Florida and Georgia to coordinate our efforts as quickly and efficiently as possible. In the coming days, we will share more information about the storm’s impact and how Inspiritus is helping.

Photo: Damage is seen at the Kings Point condos in Delray Beach, Florida, on Wednesday. Officials believe it was caused by a tornado fueled by Hurricane Ian. Credit: Greg Lovett/The Palm Beach Post/USA Today Network

HOW YOU CAN HELP

DONATE

Donate to Inspiritus: The more funding we raise, the longer our teams can stay on the ground continuing to help homeowners impacted by the Hurricane. Your support will provide free debris removal, muck & gut services and water purification to help families affected by the storm, especially those who can't recover without help.

VOLUNTEER

As Hurricane Ian develops, we will keep you updated on the volunteer needs for this Response operation. In the meantime, you can learn more about volunteering with Inspiritus here:

Please join us in prayer for the residents and responders that are currently in the path of this catastrophic Hurricane. May the winds and waves find calm and those who are on its path, reach safety and refuge from harm.

Sincerely,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus