July 1, 2024
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (BP) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey joined Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers Sunday and Monday at two Southern Baptist churches serving residents displaced by Hurricane Ian.
The gubernatorial couple volunteered together Sunday at First Baptist Church of Naples, and Casey DeSantis returned Monday to serve at Murdock Baptist Church in Port Charlotte.
“Worked with Florida Baptist Relief to distribute food and water to residents of Naples,” the governor tweeted Sunday. He said he and Casey “have been encouraged by the outpouring of prayers and assistance for Floridians in need. Keep up the good work!”
At least 78 people have been confirmed dead from the storm: 71 in Florida, four in North Carolina and three in Cuba since Ian made landfall on the Caribbean island on Sept. 27, and in Florida a day later.
“I’m proud of our faith-based organizations that have traveled from across the state to deliver help and hope,” Casey DeSantis said in a press release on Monday. “It is heartening to see communities come together to help neighbors and friends in need. Floridians and resilient, and today I saw that first-hand through the simple act of delivering a hot meal.”
Murdock Baptist Church is among nine feeding and cleanup sites Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has established in six counties. Feeding units are operating at Calvary Baptist Church in Arcadia New Hope Baptist Church in Cape Coral, First Baptist Church in Naples, First Baptist Church in Venice, Riverside Baptist Church in Fort Myers and Crossroads Baptist Church in Fort Myers. Additional sites are expected to be established Tuesday at McGregor Baptist Church in Fort Myers and First Baptist Church in Wauchula, disaster relief reported.
