In the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association Relief News from the United States…
On September 28, Hurricane Ian made landfall in the Fort Myers area of Florida, United States, as a Category 4 storm. The intense 150 miles per hour winds and rise in sea levels caused severe flooding and widespread damage. More than 100 people lost their lives, and millions of homes and businesses were without power.
Upon hearing of the devastating hurricane aftermath, Supreme Master Ching Hai was concerned and asked our Association members to go help those in the affected areas.
Our Association members from Florida and Georgia, USA, quickly formed a relief team and set up a base in Bonita Springs, Florida, to prepare hot meals for the first responders working with emergency efforts, as well as the evacuees since they had no access to hot foods.
From October 1 to 7, the relief team prepared and served a total of 22,733 hot vegan meals to organizations in the hard-hit region. This included the Lee County Sheriff Department, Naples Community Hospitals and Fire Department, Cape Coral Police, Fort Myers Police, Bonita Fire Department and City Hall, Feed Thy Neighbor, Kiwanis Club of Cape Coral, as well as various temporary shelters and nearby families in need. In addition, the relief team also prepared hygiene care bags. Along with the book “Love Is the Only Solution,” they packed 600 bags of basic necessities, including bottled water, vegan snacks, blankets, towels, cleaning wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, diapers, and more.
The relief team was also contacted about a family in Punta Gorda, Florida, with a little girl who recently underwent a major surgery and had to wear a hip cast. The family had lost all power to their apartment and desperately needed a generator because the little girl was at high risk of overheating, and she was also taking in nutrients through a feeding tube, which required electricity. To help the family restore power to their apartment, the relief team quickly brought a generator and helped set it up. In addition to the generator, the relief team delivered vegan food and other needed items, plus US$2,000 to help with the child’s medical expenses, as well as Supreme Master Ching Hai’s books.
“I just want to thank Supreme Master Ching Hai for coming over and assisting us. We appreciate all the efforts and all the help and all the assistance.”
“Thank you very much. We appreciate you guys; thank you so much.”
Moreover, in response to Cape Coral Animal Shelter’s urgent need of a generator due to the power outage, our relief team delivered one power generator, 15 bags of vegan dog food, as well as blankets and cleaning supplies for the animal-people.
“I’m the executive director here at the Cape Coral Animal Shelter and we are so touched and blessed to be here today with the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association. They reached out, asked what we needed and they brought us everything we need, and we are grateful for that. We thank you.”
Following is Master’s reply to the rescue team: “Sending you love and thank you to all involved for your report and for your quick, responsive help to our brothers and sisters in troubled times. I am proud of you, too. If any more is needed, please contact our accountant. May all soon return to normal for those in distress. Godlove.”
Our deep gratitude to Supreme Master Ching Hai for Her constant care and loving concern for all the people in need. We also thank our Association’s relief team for the timely support and dedication in helping the storm-affected in the United States. We join in prayers for their quick recovery as well as a swift rebuilding of homes and lives, in God’s Protection and Grace.
