Hurricane Helpers: Petoskey Youth Group Came to the Rescue in Florida

Sept. 15, 2004

When Hurricane Charlie hit Florida last month, a group of seven volunteers hit the long road from Petoskey to assist victims trying to recover from the storm’s wrath.
Rotary Club secretary Kristy Beyer and her son Cody Beyer organized a week-long trip to deliver supplies and helping hands to those that were hit hardest by the hurricane.
What started out as a trip to help Kristy’s grandparents recover from the hurricane that destroyed many homes ended up being a mission trip for five youth as well. Overhearing Kristy’s plans to visit her grandparents, her son Cody decided he wanted to help out too. Cody called his youth pastor and asked for permission to use the youth group’s passenger van.
“This way we can take more people to help,” Cody pleaded with his mother. “People near grandma’s house are older and can’t lift or clean like they used to. They need us.”
Since electricity and running water were still not available in parts of southern Florida, Cody organized a list of items that people would need to make gift packages as well. Then he presented his idea to his Pastor at Harbor Light Community Church.
“We’re very proud of Cody” said Pastor Gray Mindel. “We strive to have a community-oriented church and he is proof that even our young people can make a difference.”
The Beyer family along with Nathan Bellmer, Michael Britton, Rachel Moyer and Tasha Wittenmyer delivered 25 gift packages to families recommended to them by the American Red Cross in the Port Charlotte area. Items in the gift boxes included bottled water, tuna, crackers, nuts, chips, cookies, juice boxes, Kool-Aid, lip balm, fresh fruit, baby wipes and hand sanitizer. Other items including clothing, toys, bottled water, toiletry items, batteries and non-perishable food items were donated to a Comfort station that was located near Beyer’s grandparents home.

NO POWER
Comfort stations were set up near areas with extensive damage to offer assistance, hot meals, ice and water to residents that had no power or electricity. The National Guard also came through the neighborhood every day the power was off to offer ice and water. Without air conditioning or running water and temperatures in the 90’s with 95% humidity, dehydration and heat exhaustion were a major concern for the area residents.
The group also helped organize a food pantry with the St. Charles Diocese in Port Charlotte. The pantry offered food, cleaning supplies, bedding and clothing to over 100 families a day. The American Red Cross offered hot meals at the panty location and the youth group assisted the Red Cross by volunteering to serve the meals. This gave some of the Red Cross workers a break since they had been on the scene since the day after Hurricane Charlie hit.
There were volunteers and workers from all over the United States helping to get the community back on its feet. The group worked with people from Rhode Island, Virginia, Wisconsin and Colorado.
“On TV you only see a portion of what happened down there. When you see it for yourself it’s overwhelming” said Alan Beyer. “It’s sad because there’s still so much to be done.”


DAMAGED HOMES
Tarps are covering many people’s damaged homes. Piles of debris continued to line the streets more than two weeks after Charley. Ecological problems caused by the hurricane are killing fish while the stench of rotting vegetation is looming in the air surrounding the Peace River.
Concerns of price gouging for repairs and the high rate of unemployment due to the hurricane are also major concerns in the area.
After returning to Petoskey, the Beyer family was closely watching Hurricane Francis. “Another hurricane hitting Florida would be devastating.” Beyer said “If it hits the Port Charlotte area again our next drive to Florida will be to bring my grandparents home.”