SWFL Irma Relief
Donation protected
I grew up in Bonita Springs, went to high school in Estero, worked and played in San Carlos, Fort Myers and Naples and Immokalee My youth is there, part of my adulthood is there and my heart is there. The pictures and stories coming from my home community are heart breaking and devastating.
I moved away 7 years ago, as many of my friends did at various points in their lives, but I have dozens of friends and some family who have remained. Even though I'm not there, I feel the angst and hurt of the community. I want to help, I need to help. In a case like this, me being there at the moment won't help--it will just put a strain on the already tight resources.
But, money helps. I love the Red Cross and other great charities, they're essential to mass relief in disasters like this and they are great at what they do; but there is no way for me to know that the money I give will go to my own home. So, I want to establish this fund and encourage all of us who grew up in the area but who no longer live there, to give what you can.
Along the journey, we will find the best recipient(s) for the money, whether it be food banks, churches who are helping the recovery effort or other organizations. But I want to ensure the money goes to OUR communities. My goal is to find at least 2 or 3 great outlets to split the money up toward--anyone and everyone, please feel free to leave comments as to which organizations would benefit our community the most.
I want to leave this up for at least 1 week and see what kind of support we can get. After that, we'll extend if people are still generating interest. At that 1 week point, we'll make disbursements to the charities, then keep it going as long as we can/need.
I feel compelled to help the residents of the area that shaped me into the person I am today. I would ask that everyone who wasn't affected by the storm to consider helping those who were. Even if you're reading this and you never lived there, please consider helping. These are real people in desperate need of any and all help. $5, $10, $50, $100 ($10,000 if any Hollywood celebrities or sports stars would like to help...) every little bit counts in desperate situations like these. Think about it this way, what may be one or two lattes in a week at Starbucks for you, could mean a week's worth of water or more for an entire family. Please, help if you can even just spare a little.
People helping people in times like these are what makes our world a tolerable place in which to live. Thank you for reading and thank you for your help!
#SWFLstrong
I moved away 7 years ago, as many of my friends did at various points in their lives, but I have dozens of friends and some family who have remained. Even though I'm not there, I feel the angst and hurt of the community. I want to help, I need to help. In a case like this, me being there at the moment won't help--it will just put a strain on the already tight resources.
But, money helps. I love the Red Cross and other great charities, they're essential to mass relief in disasters like this and they are great at what they do; but there is no way for me to know that the money I give will go to my own home. So, I want to establish this fund and encourage all of us who grew up in the area but who no longer live there, to give what you can.
Along the journey, we will find the best recipient(s) for the money, whether it be food banks, churches who are helping the recovery effort or other organizations. But I want to ensure the money goes to OUR communities. My goal is to find at least 2 or 3 great outlets to split the money up toward--anyone and everyone, please feel free to leave comments as to which organizations would benefit our community the most.
I want to leave this up for at least 1 week and see what kind of support we can get. After that, we'll extend if people are still generating interest. At that 1 week point, we'll make disbursements to the charities, then keep it going as long as we can/need.
I feel compelled to help the residents of the area that shaped me into the person I am today. I would ask that everyone who wasn't affected by the storm to consider helping those who were. Even if you're reading this and you never lived there, please consider helping. These are real people in desperate need of any and all help. $5, $10, $50, $100 ($10,000 if any Hollywood celebrities or sports stars would like to help...) every little bit counts in desperate situations like these. Think about it this way, what may be one or two lattes in a week at Starbucks for you, could mean a week's worth of water or more for an entire family. Please, help if you can even just spare a little.
People helping people in times like these are what makes our world a tolerable place in which to live. Thank you for reading and thank you for your help!
#SWFLstrong
Organizer
David Lesansky
Organizer
Charlotte, NC
