Thanks to Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund, 21 agencies have received nearly $1.6 million to assist with disaster-relief resources as of Nov. 6, 2017. More grants are pending. For timely updates, visit the Community Impact webpage.

One of the grantees, Salvation Army Northeast Florida Area Command, received $100,000 in order to provide Hurricane Irma victims shelter and temporary housing; food, water and clothing resources; and home stabilization services, such as debris removal.

A Clay County neighborhood is one example of how those funds have been used. Briarwood Apartments in Middleburg experienced significant flooding from Black Creek waters. A large section of the complex was severely damaged, leaving many residents without food and shelter.

The Salvation Army was able to provide home stabilization services as well as temporary shelter and meals for those affected. As one couple wrote to the organization with gratitude, “Our neighbors know and experienced God’s love through the generous actions of Salvation Army.”

Thanks to Florida’s First Coast Relief Fund, Salvation Army has helped more than 104 households in Clay County with Irma-related needs. In addition, they’ve helped 208 households in Duval County. And the work is still underway.

For more information on the Salvation Army Northeast Florida Area Command, visit salvationarmyflorida.org/jacksonville.