Help Us Raise The Roof!
Donation protected
On October 7th 2016, Hurricane Matthew passed through the small community of New Smryna Beach, Florida. The 130 mph winds tore through the town destroying buildings and downing trees. The normally quiet backwater creeks surrounding the town poured over into the streets as the storm headed NNW leaving devastation in its path.
Marine Discovery Center, a popular 501C3 nonprofit in the area that focuses on environmental education and outreach had planned well for the storm. The beloved tour boat, The Discovery, was dry docked in Ponce Inlet while all of the tour kayaks were lifted off of their creek side stands and brought inside the building. The FWC boat, used to survey flora and fauna in the area, was tucked away beside the kayaks and other possessions needing extra protection from the storm. The staff spent hours on Tuesday and Wednesday setting all of the aquariums to run on generators for when the power went out, covering electronics and important papers in plastic sheeting, and making sure everything was tied down, tucked away, and safe from the storm. The staff left to take care of their own homes, not knowing what they would come back to next week.
The Artists' Workshop, another community driven 501C3 non-profit, shares the building with The Marine Discovery Center and has been offering art education since 1957 in New Smyrna Beach. The Artists' Workshop has long served the community by conducting art education classes for adults and well as youth including a very successful summer art camp for children. There are close to 350 members as well as numerous nonmembers who take classes in all forms of art instruction as well as workshops presented by visiting artists from other areas of the country.
After Matthew subsided, and people started returning to town, Marine Discovery Center and Artist Workshop staff discovered that their building had not fared as well as they had hoped despite their careful consideration when preparing for the storm. The building, site of an old high school, was missing more than half of its roof which lay in pieces and sheets on the ground. Much of the building suffered water damage, especially in the Marine Discovery Center’s classroom, education staff office, and the gift shop. Staff and volunteers spent their weekend mopping up water, caring for the aquariums, and temporarily putting a tarp over the gaping holes in the roof weighed down with pieces of rubble. The Artist Workshop has been forced to cancel classes and workshops until the new roof can be installed due to water damage in four studios, their kitchen, and a library which houses several hundred art books.
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Estimates show that the entire roof will need to be replaced to the tune of $150,000 and unfortunately insurance will not cover it.
10,000 square feet of roof will need to be replaced, and a donation of as little as $15 can help us repair one square foot of roof space.
We are hopeful that you will help us reach our goal so we can replace our roof and continue serving our community as a leader in environmental education and outreach.
Please consider donating today!
Marine Discovery Center, a popular 501C3 nonprofit in the area that focuses on environmental education and outreach had planned well for the storm. The beloved tour boat, The Discovery, was dry docked in Ponce Inlet while all of the tour kayaks were lifted off of their creek side stands and brought inside the building. The FWC boat, used to survey flora and fauna in the area, was tucked away beside the kayaks and other possessions needing extra protection from the storm. The staff spent hours on Tuesday and Wednesday setting all of the aquariums to run on generators for when the power went out, covering electronics and important papers in plastic sheeting, and making sure everything was tied down, tucked away, and safe from the storm. The staff left to take care of their own homes, not knowing what they would come back to next week.
The Artists' Workshop, another community driven 501C3 non-profit, shares the building with The Marine Discovery Center and has been offering art education since 1957 in New Smyrna Beach. The Artists' Workshop has long served the community by conducting art education classes for adults and well as youth including a very successful summer art camp for children. There are close to 350 members as well as numerous nonmembers who take classes in all forms of art instruction as well as workshops presented by visiting artists from other areas of the country.
After Matthew subsided, and people started returning to town, Marine Discovery Center and Artist Workshop staff discovered that their building had not fared as well as they had hoped despite their careful consideration when preparing for the storm. The building, site of an old high school, was missing more than half of its roof which lay in pieces and sheets on the ground. Much of the building suffered water damage, especially in the Marine Discovery Center’s classroom, education staff office, and the gift shop. Staff and volunteers spent their weekend mopping up water, caring for the aquariums, and temporarily putting a tarp over the gaping holes in the roof weighed down with pieces of rubble. The Artist Workshop has been forced to cancel classes and workshops until the new roof can be installed due to water damage in four studios, their kitchen, and a library which houses several hundred art books.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimates show that the entire roof will need to be replaced to the tune of $150,000 and unfortunately insurance will not cover it.
10,000 square feet of roof will need to be replaced, and a donation of as little as $15 can help us repair one square foot of roof space.
We are hopeful that you will help us reach our goal so we can replace our roof and continue serving our community as a leader in environmental education and outreach.
Please consider donating today!
Organizer
Chad Truxall
Organizer
New Smyrna Beach, FL
