Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, distributed supplies to families in need on the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ian.
On Sept. 28, Better Together volunteers came together and delivered much-needed supplies to families in the Harlem Heights, Suncoast Estates and Pine Island communities. The nonprofit connected with 15 families to provide a variety of items, including beds, diapers, sheets and pillows, wipes, toys for the children and gift cards for Home Depot and Walmart.
The storm hit these three areas hard, leaving many homes destroyed or uninhabitable. One year later, families still have great need and Better Together is working to fix that.
Immediately after Hurricane Ian made landfall, Better Together mobilized hundreds of volunteers to take supplies door to door, providing supplies to 6,500 families, serving 5,500 meals, tarping and covering 440 roofs, helping 100 post-storm job seekers and hosting 13 children displaced by the hurricane. This summer, Better Together launched its “Be the Light” campaign, taking solar-powered, portable lights door to door in the same communities and preparing them for future storms. Now, the organization has stepped up once again.
“This was a very difficult day for all of us here in Southwest Florida, on the anniversary of a day when our lives are permanently changed,” said Megan Rose, CEO of Better Together. “Through all of the heartache, our team of volunteers is providing hope and easing the burden of families still struggling to meet critical needs. Our community has come so far in one year, but there’s still so much that can be done.”
Better Together is a nonprofit that helps parents who are going through a challenging time to keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive. Established in Southwest Florida just over five years ago, the nonprofit’s programming has rapidly expanded to reach families in 21 counties across the state. To date, the program has served over 6,000 children and kept 98% of families together, while helping nearly 39,000 job seekers across 22 states find employment.
To learn more about Better Together, its programs and how to get involved, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.
ABOUT BETTER TOGETHER
Better Together is a nonprofit organization that helps parents going through a hard time keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive. A privately funded and professionally supported organization, Better Together is made up of volunteers who believe helping people help themselves is the best way to restore dignity and bring families together. Through the Better Families program, families are offered a preventive alternative to foster care while they get the help they need. To date, the program has kept 98% of children served out of foster care. The Better Jobs program was created to address the 76% of families that come to Better Together because of economic hardship tied to unemployment. In addition to community job fairs, the program offers job seekers coaching, guidance, support and encouragement through local church partners. For more information, visit BetterTogetherUS.org.
