How Lakeland is supporting hurricane relief efforts

Screen Shot 2019-09-04 at 12.25.02 PM

Hurricane Dorian | Photo via National Weather Center

Table of Contents

Florida is definitely no stranger to hurricane seasonbut Dorian has especially kept us on our toes. While we aren’t sure exactly what the full extent of the storm’s impact will be overall (y’all it’s still moving – follow the current track here), there’s one thing we can be certain of – Lakelanders will be looking to lend a hand to those affected – especially in the Bahamas.

Here are just a few ways you can get involved. ⤵️

  • Provide direct support to the Bahamas with this locally created fundraiser. All donations go toward Team Rubicon, which unites the skills + experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams.
  • Head to volunteer.florida/org/dorian to find ways to volunteer.
  • While they don’t have any space left for food donations, you can support the American Red Cross through a monetary donation or you can donate frequent flyer miles to help fly in shelter volunteers from other states.
  • Over 1,200 Airbnb hosts are providing free housing to residents + disaster relief workers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina + Alabama through the Open Homes program. If you’re an Airbnb host, you can help by opening up your home to those who need housing through the program.
  • International Medical Corps are seeking donations that will help affected Bahamas residents with medical care, at the request of the Florida Department of Health.
  • SUN ‘n FUN will be accepting non-perishable donations for the Bahamas relief program. Please see their website for suggested items. They are working with other nonprofits to transport these items directly to the Bahamas.
  • The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida (including the Bahamas) will be delivering water filtration systems among other needed materials to the hardest-hit areas. Find more information at floridacbf.org.

#ProTip: Check organizations out through the Charity Navigator – a website which rates the efficiency of aid organizations.

Question

– LALtoday team (Jessica + Kaylee)

More from LALtoday
Let us plan your nightly entertainment with movies, live music, and stage shows, plus the perfect places to grab a bite.
In response to a statewide water shortage, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is enacting water restrictions for Polk County and surrounding areas.
Polk County Public Schools just broke ground on Junior Achievement’s innovative new Discovery Center where students will get hands-on business experience.
When it comes to hyperspecific food festival themes, Central Florida has the recipe down pat.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Wellness
Get your steps in and find a sense of sisterhood with this group that meets weekly for walks along Lakeland’s most picturesque trails.
Get a rare look inside some of Lakeland’s most historic homes on this walking tour of the Lake Morton neighborhood.
We’re diving into the average cost to rent in Lakeland compared to nearby cities.
Show off your Swan City smarts in a new game where you’ll guess the location of different swans in Lakeland. Be the quickest to guess correctly for a newsletter feature.
If you’re feeling eager to clean out those closets, garages, and storage sheds, consider donating your gently used items to these community organizations making a difference in our city.