South Florida groups collect money, supplies for Hurricane Milton relief. Here’s how you can help

In the wake of Hurricane Milton, the state’s second major hurricane in two weeks, many people from South Florida might be looking at photos of destruction, reading stories about families who lost their homes and wondering: How can I help?

The Category 3 hurricane barreled across Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday evening, leaving parts of Sarasota, Fort Myers and other communities underwater and more than 3 million people without power . Homes and buildings were decimated by a record-setting string of tornadoes across the state.

Florida groups, both secular and religious, are collecting money for relief efforts and sending supplies. Some groups — including the national Islamic organization ICNA Relief USA , which works with agencies such as FEMA — are looking for South Florida volunteers to travel to Tampa to assist with distributing aid and helping clear trees and debris.

“We are taking about 20 or 30 volunteers, and we’ll be driving from South Florida to help support the local effort,” said Abdul Rauf Khan, CEO and chief executive officer of ICNA. “Thank God we were safe last night and the day before from the hurricane. So now it’s our turn to go help them.”

Here’s a list of local organizations helping with hurricane relief and some ways you can get involved in their efforts.

The Smile Trust

The Miami nonprofit has set up a mutual-aid network called the Disaster Recovery Network, which is collecting donations to support the “collection and distribution of much-needed items including water, diapers, medicine, first aid, and hot food to residents impacted by Helene and Milton.” They are also looking for volunteers to assist with canvassing, wellness checks, phone calls, packing trucks and other tasks.

How to help

• Donate here .
• Volunteer at The Freedom Lab at 4300 NW 12th Ave. in Miami .

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation

The umbrella organization for dozens of Jewish schools, synagogues and community organizations said it is working in partnership with Jewish Federations of North America’s Emergency Committee to provide cash assistance to families, medical and hygiene supplies, relief equipment (including portable generators), air conditioners, internet and port-a-potties as well as a volunteer corps for clean-up and debris removal.

The group said it will deploy volunteers to the region. In partnership with Nechama and Crisis Cleanup, volunteers are also being trained to receive calls from individuals who were impacted and assess their needs.

How to help

• Donate at the Federation website here .

In addition, many synagogues across the state are welcoming those impacted by the storm to join for Yom Kippur services, even if they are not members, said Rabbi Jessica Jacobs, of Temple Beth Sholom. Jacobs received a message from the Reform rabbinical union called the Central Conference of American Rabbis, which is asking rabbis to open their doors to those in need.

“Usually for High Holidays you need paid tickets, but most synagogues will be welcoming anyone who had to evacuate and needs a place to pray,” said Jacobs.

Jacobs explained that for High Holidays, synagogues practice “reciprocity,” in which Reform Judaism members who are traveling for the holidays can apply for tickets to another synagogue where they are. This effort goes one step further to allow walk-ins for services. Because of the storm, said Jacobs, rabbis from impacted areas have reached out to Miami synagogues to let them know congregants are coming their way.

Jewish Federation of Broward County

The network of organizations in Broward said it is “uniquely positioned to respond to crises ... with empathy, urgency and compassion.” The organization said it is absorbing all administrative costs, allowing 100% of the tax-deductible donations to go toward emergency shelter, water, food, medical supplies and other essential resources.

How to help

• Donate here .

The Archdiocese of Miami

“In response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Milton across the state of Florida, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami Inc. is establishing a dedicated donation fund to assist those affected by the hurricane,” the Archdiocese wrote in a press release. “One hundred percent of all funds received will be directed to providing humanitarian relief and assistance to those affected by Hurricane Milton.”

How to help

• Donate at the Catholic Charities’ website here .

ICNA Relief usa

The Muslim organization operates disaster relief efforts in 42 states and has an on-location operation to help those impacted by Hurricane Milton. CEO Khan says the group is distributing water, canned food, flashlights, tarps and other items. The group is looking for volunteers to go on one-day trips to the storm zone and donations to sustain operations.

Khan said that even though the organization is a Muslim group, its impact reaches anyone in need of help.

“We have to do it because we are honored by our religion, to help our our fellow Americans,” said Khan. “We’re not inviting people to Islam. We’re just saying this is what we do as Muslims.”

How to help

• Donate here.
• Sign up to volunteer for the organization here .

The Miami Foundation

The group created a web page for statewide and local resources and included a list of other organizations that are helping. “The Miami Disaster Resilience Fund is a unified and proactive approach that supports nonprofits providing disaster relief services throughout Greater Miami,” the group wrote on its website. “The Fund is a permanent, revolving fund that allows us to immediately jump into action with support when we know a disaster is imminent.”

How to help

• Donate to the resilience fund here .
• Browse other local relief efforts and resources here .
  
  

Global HOPE, sponsored by the United Church of Christ

The Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ is collecting items for hygiene kits: full-size toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, hand towels, deodorant, razors, lotion, combs and large Ziploc bags.

Senior Pastor Dr. Laurinda Hafner said the church is planning to visit places that need the most help. In the meantime, she said, anyone can donate to the United Church of Christ’s larger help network, the Global HOPE ministry , which has partners who are “on the ground doing the work of rebuilding, supporting, and aiding people in distress,” Hafner said in an email to the Miami Herald.

“The great thing about our partners is that long after television cameras and the news leaves, they are still there helping folks pick up the pieces,” said Hafner. She explained that as with many religious traditions, helping those in need is a core tenet.

“And while love is having a hard time in our world these days, Jesus makes it clear in my tradition, that we are to love our neighbor as our self,” she said. “As people of faith, we can do nothing less than care for those in need no matter what separates us, be it geography, or even political, religious, or social differences.”

How to help

• Donate to the relief efforts here .
• Sign up to volunteer at a phone bank , to help connect people with support.

The Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church

The group established a fund “to provide relief to the churches and communities who have been most impacted,” wrote Bishop Tom Berlin in a newsletter. “We use this fund, even as we work with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and others, related to long term relief.”

The Disaster Recovery Hotline is 855-228-3862, and there is more information about volunteering and donating on the group’s website .

How people can help

• Donate to the relief fund here.

SMASH

The Miami nonprofit, which says it is “a Community Land Trust building power for housing and climate justice,” is looking for volunteers to travel to disaster areas for 3-7 days to provide assistance with:

• Distributing food, water and supplies.
• Conducting wellness checks (Spanish speakers needed).
• Driving aid around Florida.

How to help

• Donate to the organization here .
• Sign up to volunteer here .

This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and donors in South Florida’s Jewish and Muslim communities in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.