Shreveport nonprofit working to send help to Fla. after Hurricane Ian

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - Judah 1 Aviation Ministries, Evangel Christian Academy, Shreveport Volunteer Network, and other local churches in the ArkLaTex are sending supplies to the River at Tampa Bay Church to help victims of Hurricane Ian.

Eric Gonyon, associate pastor at the Tampa church, says he recently heard from a family he knows in Fort Myers who rode out the hurricane in their home.

“I was just on the phone with a pastor who didn’t have phone service, and I’m the first call that she made and got cell service with. She was in her house, and her daughter was with her, and the water was rising so fast, this is in Fort Myers area, and her daughter looked at her and said, ‘Mom you’re the greatest mom ever,’” he said.

Gonyon’s church is setting up hubs in Fort Myers and Naples to help get supplies to families.

“We’ve already sent five 18-wheelers full of supplies down and then we are taking our little planes and we are going to fly into the areas that are most affected. Some of them not accessible by road,” said Kathy Aaron.

Students at Evangel Christian Academy also wanted to show their support by writing letters to help motivate families.

Principal Stacie Rathbun says one of the missions at their school is to honor others.

“Our students are taught to learn, to encourage others, so when they get this opportunity, they shine. They draw a little picture on it too, they just want to share the encouragement that we teach them and they want to give it to other people,” said Rathbun.

Judah 1 Aviation Ministries says they will also be sending planes with supplies to Puerto Rico.

Copyright 2022 KSLA. All rights reserved.