Donation drive taking place on behalf of Hurricane Ian victims

2022-10-09 15:12:09 By : Ms. Tracy Lei

A Monroe law office and an area rescue group are collecting items for victims of Hurricane Ian.

Steven Hyder and the Boora Law Group along with the Fluffy Butts Rescue are collecting items through Sunday at the Boora Law Group on Raven Parkway.

Fluffy Butts Rescue is a non-profit organization that is now entirely online. It was once housed near the Monroe County Humane Society.

“We will be partnering with many, many businesses as this continues,” said collection organizer Nicole King from Fluffy Butts Rescue. “We are a rescue group that has done this several times and are doing it again. During Hurricane Irma we helped rescue 600 animals and delivered three semis of supplies along with six other rescues.”

King was in Florida Thursday, helping two rescue centers.

“We are delivering directly into two amazing shelters and, as of right now, we are their only resource,” King said. “On Thursday, St. Francis fed over 200 people, and they are totally out of food. We will back to around Oct. 9 to arrange caravans from Michigan to Florida to bring items into several shelters in Florida. We have box trucks that will be donated for transport.”

Monroe County residents can help Florida victims by collecting non-perishable foods; drinks like Gatorade, juices, instant coffee, Capri Sun, powdered lemonade and Kool-aid; batteries; flashlights; baby formula and baby food; diapers and wipes; body wipes; feminine hygiene programs; razors; shampoo and conditioner; toothbrushes and toothpaste; hairbrushes; deodorant; first-aid kits; men’s hygiene products like razors, shaving cream and deodorant; wet and dry dog and cat food; pet products like flea collars, shampoo and new or gently used leashes and collars; generators, including used working ones; sets of sheets, gently used accepted; powdered milk and cream; sealable containers; children’s new or used sleeping bags; cleaning supplies; toilet paper; paper towels; garbage bags; hand soap; dish soap; laundry detergent and fabric softener; gift cards; bug spray, and basic over-the-counter medications like Benadryl, aspirin and ibuprofen.

Not needed are: bottled water, candles, clothes, heavy and bulky items, items that can melt, prescription medications, shoes and trash.

Items can be dropped-off at the Boora Law Group, 5321 Raven Parkway. Drop-off times are noon to 2 p.m. today; 3-5 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday; 9-11 a.m. Thursday; 1-3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5-7 p.m. Sunday.

Items also can be shipped directly to two Florida shelters: Arbor House, 2618 SW 6th St., Gainesville, FL 32609, and St. Francis House, 413 S. Main, Gainesville, FL 32601.

“If you can help, you can drop-off donations or send supplies and food immediately via Amazon Pantry or your preferred method,” King said. “If you have a large, enclosed trailer or transport vehicle and would like to caravan back to Florida hauling supplies, please contact us. We can assist with fuel.”

Local businesses that want to serve as drop-off locations can email King at nicole.booralaw@gmail.com