Hurricane Wilma Update

November  05:

We completed our last day of feeding hot meals here in Belle Glade Florida with a delicious lunch of polish sausages.  We delivered meals to our list of elderly and disabled households who were so happy to have us come by.  We were able to leave lots of supplies with Pastor and Mrs. Jordan who sponsor monthly birthday parties for all the children who live in the housing project where we have been providing meals.  Saturday evening the crew packed up the tractor-trailer, hot dog carts, grills, motor home and trucks and headed home to Port Mercy.

November 04:

South Florida Friday we had another full day of serving meals and encouraging people here in Belle Grade.  We cooked our ever popular hamburgers with all the fixings and corn on the cob as a side dish.  Over 1000 meals went out in the afternoon and then we loaded up boxes of "to-go" burgers. We home delivered them to elderly folks, disabled people and took many into a mobile home park that was devastated by Hurricane Wilma.  The power is being restored here now, stores and restaurants are opening, so we are going to make Saturday, November 5th our last day before heading home to Port Mercy.

November 03:

The Friend Ships team arrived at Belle Grade Florida on November 2nd with our trucks and kitchens.  This area is home to thousands of migrant farm workers and many of the communities homes were extremely hard hit.  We set up our "hot dog cart" mobile kitchens in a housing district that doesn't yet have power and our first day here served 1000 meals to many appreciative people.  We home delivered meals to elderly people who could not come to our location and delivered food to a nearby mobile home park.

October 28:

Hurricane Wilma Update October 28th.  The powerful eye of Hurricane Wilma passed closely by the Honduran Island of Roatán in the Bay Islands, the location of "Friend Ships Village" just before making landfall in Mexico.  The island reported 150 mile winds and suffered severe wind and rain damage.  Many homes have been damaged.  Our staff is providing tarp and working with a team of local volunteers who are providing roof repairs in Punta Gorda, a village on the south end of the island.  We are also coordinating with the Mayor's office in order to provide tarp that will be used to repair homes and businesses damaged by Hurricane Wilma.  Today, a tropical storm named Beta is moving toward Honduras and is expected gain hurricane strength later today.  It will make landfall at the Nicaragua/Honduras border this weekend. Thousands of people in its path are being evacuated.

October 27:

Our team is preparing now to leave for Palm Beach County, Florida in order to provide food service for an area of farm workers who have had severe damages to their homes because of Hurricane Wilma.  They are without useable water, power or access to supplies.  The city is inland and roads are accessible, so we will take supplies and equipment in by truck.  We'll tell you more as plans develop.

If you are interested in serving with Friend Ships in the Katrina/Rita Relief Efforts or in the Lake Charles vicinity, the best way to contact us is to call (337) 433-5022.  You can make financial donations online at anytime.  If you would like to mail a donation or supplies please send them to Friend Ships Unlimited at Port Mercy, 1019 North First Avenue, Lake Charles, LA 70601. 

YOU CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Consider a financial gift for this effort.  Funds donated will purchase fuel or other needed items for disaster response in the most effective way.  Because we own and operate our own ships, Friend Ships is glad to take donations of both goods and funds.  The entire Friend Ships staff is composed of unpaid volunteers so your gift goes far to meet needs and makes a great impact!

To donate online funds for this effort, (click here - Please specify in the comments "Disaster Response").  If you would like to donate goods and supplies or get more information, email or call "Port Mercy" at (337) 433-5022.  Together we can be a blessing to people in need!  Please check back for updates.

November 2005