Wildwood Legion, Cape May Cares Again Send Storm Aid, This Time to Florida Panhandle

COURT HOUSE – Several truckloads of donated supplies were delivered to Hurricane Michael victims in the Florida Panhandle last week, thanks to the generosity of Cape May County residents.
On Oct. 16, a 16-foot truck left Rio Grande headed for a hurricane relief staging area 45 miles outside of Panama City, Fla. It was the second hurricane relief truck driven within a month by Christopher Chin, of Court House, who delivered items Sept. 21 to a small North Carolina town ravaged by Hurricane Florence. Donations were collected by Cape May Cares.
Two days later, two trailers carrying supplies collected by the Wildwood American Legion Post 184 left for a staging area 20 miles south of Mexico Beach, Fla., targeting an American Legion post there which would help direct donations for Hurricane Michael victims.
The Panhandle suffered a direct hit from the storm. Residents in Mexico Beach who had evacuated were allowed to return to their homes Oct. 17.
“I think this storm caught people by surprise,” Chin said, “especially the intensity of it. We had just been through collecting for Florence, so we were able to mobilize pretty quickly. It was easier to collect this time around, and we’re heading down to Florida within a few days so they’ll get supplies sooner.”
Chin said he drove straight through to Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., taking a two-hour break during the 24-hour drive. “I was able to catch a glimpse of the damage from the interstate almost 100 miles away,” he said, “and that in itself was devastating. No picture on the news will do justice to how widespread the damage is.”
Chin said they learned some lessons after collecting for Florence victims, such as providing more rubber gloves and cleaning supplies. He said flyers were sent home Oct. 12 to students at Middle Township Elementary School No.1 about the collection.
He noted the Police Benevolent Association Local 59, of Rio Grande, donated two truckloads of items.
Chin, a member of the Nam Knights of America Motorcycle Club Jersey Coast Chapter, stayed a few days in Florida to lend help.
“Thank you for your incredible gifts in our time of need,” Impulse Church Pastor Yuriy Mayba said. His Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., was a distribution center for the area.
Joe Hickey, public relations officer for the Wildwood American Legion Post 184, said their two trailers carried about six tons of supplies, everything from clothing to food to supplies to Florida.
Last year the post collected for Hurricane Irma victims in Florida.
“We’re collecting for vets in need,” Hickey noted, “but the legion down there will direct where the items will go. Some of the people have lost everything and are in a bad way. We’ll stay to help distribute items. It’s an awful situation that we hope we can help with our donations.”
The recovery effort in the Florida Panhandle in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael will be a “long haul,” Stephen Shuga said.
The past commander of the Department of Florida is handling logistics for the American Legion’s relief efforts in the state after overseeing relief efforts following Hurricane Irma during his term as department commander last year.
The Florida American Legion Hurricane Disaster Relief Team is supporting legion posts and their communities in outlying areas directly affected by Hurricane Michael.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.