First Lady of Florida Casey DeSantis talks with Florida Baptist Disaster Relief Director David Coggins after DeSantis had helped hand out meals from a SBDR mobile kitchen at Murdock Baptist Church in Port Charlotte, Fla., on Oct. 3.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey joined Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers Oct. 2 and 3 at two Southern Baptist churches serving residents displaced by Hurricane Ian.
The gubernatorial couple volunteered together Oct. 2 at First Baptist Church of Naples, and First Lady Casey DeSantis returned Oct. 3 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 First Lady Casey DeSantis “have been encouraged by the outpouring of prayers and assistance for Floridians in need. Keep up the good work!”
More than 100 people were killed in the state after Ian came ashore Sept. 28 as a Category 4 storm, according to latest news reports, as the search for victims continues.
“I’m proud of our faith-based organizations that have traveled from across the state to deliver help and hope,” Casey DeSantis said in an Oct. 3 press release. “It is heartening to see communities come together to help neighbors and friends in need. Floridians are resilient, and today I saw that first-hand through the simple act of delivering a hot meal.”
Photos by Alan Youngblood Left, First Lady of Florida Casey DeSantis helps hand out meals at an SBDR kitchen at Murdock Baptist Church in Port Charlotte, Fla. Right, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers prepare food at Murdock Baptist Church to be distributed to people at the church as well as by the Salvation Army in the surrounding communities.
Murdock Baptist Church is among nine feeding and cleanup sites Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) 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, SBDR reported.
(EDITOR’S NOTE – Diana Chandler is Baptist Press’ senior writer.)
