In the wake of a disaster, the American Red Cross welcomes partners that can help bring comfort to those whose lives have been upended.
In Kissimmee, Fla., that help came in the form of an authentic Latino banquet, served at the evacuation shelter at Osceola Heritage Park arena, just a week after Hurricane Ian poured a historic amount of rain on central Florida.
Red Cross disaster responders have been working around the clock to make some 75 evacuees from the Good Samaritan Village and nearby flooded neighborhoods comfortable.
An offer from LatinoJustice PRLDEF, also known as the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, was an unexpected treat for shelter residents.
Everyone enjoyed a catered meal of Spanish rice, seasoned chicken, a salad, and fried vegetables along with candies for dessert.
“Thank you to Latino Justice and Red Cross just for being here,” said Ada Vega of Kissimmee. “The Red Cross volunteers are here for us, they support us. Day shift, night shift, they are reaching out to make sure all of our needs are met. Offering showers, clean clothes; it's just amazing.
“I’m taking my dinner to my car to eat tonight,” she said, with a tear sliding down her check. “I don’t know what we’d do without the Red Cross and everyone’s generosity.”
Carolina Gonzalez, director of communications for LatinoJustice PRLDEF, explained that her group had been planning to host a 50th anniversary office patio party but switched gears just a day before.
“As we prepared for our party, with people arriving from New York and elsewhere, we realized our people were in shelters,” Gonzalez said. “We wanted to come to help people who need our support. This was the best use of our time and resources.”
Shelter resident Legna Gomez reflected on her family’s hurricane ordeal and the generosity they have found. Early the day after Ian swept across Florida, flood waters were swelling across Kissimmee.
She and her spouse, Geddis Taylor, each hoisted one of their five-year-old twins on their backs and waded to safety. “He is my hero,” young Abraham said proudly, referring to his dad. His sister, Lailah, chimed in with the same title for her mom.
“We’ve lost everything,” Gomez said as she slowly savored her Spanish rice. Taylor choked up with emotion and his eyes fill with tears at the thought of their losses. “I can’t eat right now,” he said.
As their mother urged them to eat, the children were preoccupied with new toy cars. But Abraham had definite feelings about his new surroundings: “I’m glad I’m here. I don’t want to go home because it’s dirty and stinks (after the storm water).”
His mother agreed. “This is the nicest shelter we’ve been in. It is big with private showers. The restrooms are clean. I can take the kids to the shower with me,” she said.
“People are forming friendships and people are coming together providing food and comfort to each other. The Red Cross people are really kind.”
The family has since been relocated to a hotel, thanks to assistance from the Federal Emergency Management agency.
American Red Cross relief is free to anyone with disaster-caused needs, thanks to the generosity of the American people. If you would like to support this and other relief operations across the nation – including Puerto Rico – financially, visit redcross.org, text the words REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation, or call 1-800-HELP NOW.