Ave Maria Sun

Townspeople unite to help others affected by Hurricane Ian




Immediately after the storm, members of the Ave Maria Teen Club, aka Los Adolescentes de Ave Maria, and some of their parents organized a bake sale to benefit people in nearby communities impacted by the wrath of Hurricane Ian. SANDY MARTINEZ / COURTESY PHOTO

Immediately after the storm, members of the Ave Maria Teen Club, aka Los Adolescentes de Ave Maria, and some of their parents organized a bake sale to benefit people in nearby communities impacted by the wrath of Hurricane Ian. SANDY MARTINEZ / COURTESY PHOTO

Ever since Hurricane Ian hit the southern west coast of Florida on Wednesday, Sept. 28, Ave Maria business owners, community members and their families have been working tirelessly to provide hot meals, clothes and shelter for people outside Ave Maria facing the heartbreaking devastation left behind by the historic storm.

The Ave Maria Teen Club, aka Los Adolescentes de Ave Maria, hosted a fundraiser bake sale for nearby communities impacted by the wrath of Ian. Town Center businesses The Secret Ingredient, Meltz and Way Out Toys & Games opened their storefronts for the kids to set up booths as the lines grew and grew in anticipation of savory pastries.

“Myself, other parents and our teens felt we needed to assist our neighboring communities,” says Sandy Martinez, a Maple Ridge resident and parent of two club members. “Even if it’s just a small-town bake sale … there’s still that commitment to do right for others. It’s wonderful as a parent to know that our kids want to be part of the process to recovery.”

Ave Maria residents gather before heading to Fort Myers with much-needed supplies..

Ave Maria residents gather before heading to Fort Myers with much-needed supplies..

Los Adolescentes are collecting items and driving to severely impacted coastal areas in Collier and Lee counties, with their most recent initiative being “Bags of Love” for 50 families containing wet wipes, feminine hygiene supplies, oral care, first aid kits, body wash, canned food and non-perishable snacks. Little notes of hope, handwritten by Ave Maria residents as young as 10 years old, were tucked inside each bag.

“We wholeheartedly thank everyone who has donated and who continues to give their support to families affected by Ian,” Ms. Martinez says “It’s an amazing feeling to be able to help our close neighbors during these very difficult times. Our kids are experiencing what our beautiful Ave Maria is truly about.”

Moved by these relief efforts, Way Out Toys & Games owner Shawn Jones is donating all proceeds gained from poster sales every Sunday to aid organizations like the Red Cross and to volunteer groups formed by his neighbors and fellow business owners.

An Ave Maria resident drops off donations at Hoja de Menta. COURTESY PHOTOS

An Ave Maria resident drops off donations at Hoja de Menta. COURTESY PHOTOS

“Twenty-dollar posters are one of our bestsellers,” Mr. Jones says. “It was a no brainer to decide we wanted 100 percent of these proceeds to go to charity. As of press time, he adds, the effort had helped 70 Lee County families.

Puerto Rico native Reina Del Mar, the owner of Hoja de Menta boutique, understands firsthand the difficulty experienced when a city takes on the worst from a storm. A week or so prior to Ian, she organized several donation drives for islanders impacted by Hurricane Fiona. The day after Ian rocked Southwest Florida, Ms. Del Mar partnered with the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation collecting clothes, shoes, bedding, toiletries and household items for anyone in the region who experienced loss.

“I am extremely grateful for everyone in our community who donated. They may not know it, but they brightened someone’s day with their contributions,” Ms. Del Mar says.

 

 

Ave Maria residents Kimberly Alexandra and Paula Azcarraga-Moran connected on the Facebook group, Ave Maria Neighbors, the day after Ian, both asking community members for spare water or toiletries they could deliver to neighborhoods directly hit by the storm. Strangers to each other then, the two women started collaborating on collecting and delivering supplies and meals.

A single post asking for assistance driving supplies to Lee County catapulted to several hundred townspeople coming to Ms. Alexandra’s home to drop off supplies. Many even took pets into consideration by bringing whatever animal food and supplies they could find in stores that were open.

“Even though Ave Maria was not directly affected, countless people here have expressed the love they have for this community and for all the rest of Southwest Florida,” Ms. Alexandra says. “I have never been prouder to live somewhere.”

Ms. Azcarraga-Moran knows that the bare essentials are the immediate need for all who are weathering a disaster, but as repairing, rebuilding and replacing move forward, she also knows people will start craving the things they once were used to. This is why she and Ms. Alexandra are delivering hot pizzas and focusing on collecting body care and feminine hygiene products, along with toys to replace teddy bears washed away by Ian.

Word spread fast and far about their relief efforts. Ave Maria University students joined in to help deliver supplies and remove debris. And first responders from Homestead Fire Rescue dropped off dozens of blankets at Ms. Alexandra’s front door.

“People are remaining in their homes with no roofs and water still leaking inside, because they want to hold onto what is left of their possessions,” Ms. Azcarraga-Moran says.

Ms. Alexandra adds, “We don’t plan to stop what we’re doing, and we know the folks of Ave Maria won’t turn away from the cause.”

Although a great deal of devastation has rattled many, a small town’s efforts are making an enormous impact. Big hearts truly have the ability to produce the greatest of gestures, showing how one selfless act can create a ripple of plenty more.

The community is proud to show how much “Ave Cares.”

One response to “Townspeople unite to help others affected by Hurricane Ian”

  1. Sheila P Morelli says:

    As always, a wonderful article written by Ms Erica fish!

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