The church is taking a team to Christ United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda. The pastor at Alva once served at Christ and will be trying to minister to the members of that congregation, until Christ’s pastor returns early from vacation. Their church has now been covered in visquene, and the interior stripped of wet carpets, ceiling tiles, insulation, etc. Huge fans are running by generator power in order to attempt to dry out the buildings. Black bags of debris are piled at least six feel high and 12 feet wide in front of their fellowship hall. Insurance has brought in a company called Full Circle Restoration, and they are doing a great job of getting these places cleaned out.

Cleveland is in the same state as Christ, and the restoration people are at work there, as well. The Cleveland parsonage was also severely damaged. 

Has offered the use of their parsonage (which suffered only minor problems) to the pastor at Cleveland. Even those hit hard and finding ways to serve others.

Located in one of the most devastated areas of the downtown, they have become a distribution center. Volunteers are working under a tent in the parking lot distributing food, water, diapers, batteries, clothing and ice (when they can get it). A local restaurant set up a truck in the church parking lot, where they were cooking and serving hot meals.

Has been sending out volunteers into the neighborhoods to check on shut-ins and talk with people in those communities. They have several very large trees and downed power lines blocking some of the entries to their facilities. A work team is coming tomorrow from East Naples to try to assist with clearing the trees to open better access to the church parking lot and to bring supplies for distribution. Tom Norton from the St. Petersburg District brought a generator and gasoline to power it, in order to help get this site up and going as a distribution center.

Has a well and have become an organized distribution center for their community. 

Are planning to combine their efforts Sunday afternoon and bring supplies and a work team of up to 100 people to the area to assist in whatever way needed.

Has become a Federal Emergency Management Agency site and assigned the responsibility of helping families on the Island secure their homes from more damage. Gary Edwards is coordinating work teams and securing needed supplies. Volunteers may him at 239-283-2386 to volunteer or provide visquene, tarps, plywood, etc.

Has been serving 200 people a day with food and are distributing water and ice.

Sent a truckload each with supplies to Friendship United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda.

Sent a team to First United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, and to Friendship United Methodist Church to assist with clean-up last weekend. 

Has contacted the district coordinator and has a team and supplies ready to go to Cleveland or Christ United Methodist churches, Punta Gorda this week.

Estero, Cornerstone, Edgewood, Immokalee, and many other United Methodist churches: Have supplies and volunteers ready to go as needed.