Good People Doing Good Things — In The Aftermath Of Ian

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, Environmental Issues, Good people doing good things, Social commentary

Last week, Hurricane Ian struck the state of Florida, wrecking homes, businesses, and taking over 100 lives in its path of devastation.  Some of our own friends — Horty & MJ, Scottie & Ron, Mary, Larry and others — were directly affected and our heart goes out to them.  Just as with any natural disaster, people dig down and find their good side, putting pettiness aside to help those in need.  Today’s ‘good people’ post focuses on just a few of those good people.

Small in stature, but with a big heart

Dominic D’Andrea is 7 years old and lives in Indiana … some 1,100 miles from Ft. Myers, Florida, but when his mother explained to him what a hurricane is and how Hurricane Ian had destroyed homes and cost people their lives, he rallied to the cause.  Dominic retrieved his ‘piggy bank’ (actually a rather large jar) and said he wanted to give it to the people in Florida …

“I’m sending it to people in need in Florida … because they had a hurricane… and they need more stuff. Because their house might fall down and they’ll have nothing. I was really saving up for a Corvette or an electric scooter, but people need this.”

His mother, Jaclyn, was so moved by his gesture that she recorded it on video to share with his dad, who was at work.  She also posted it on social media, where it understandably went viral. Methinks young Dominic could teach us all a lesson!  The piggy bank, by the way, held $280 … far more than any piggy bank I owned when I was 7 years old!

Helping the helper

Tony Atkins is a reporter for WESH 2 News in the Orlando, Florida, area and early last Thursday morning, he became a hero to at least one woman.  While covering Hurricane Ian, Mr. Atkins noticed a car stuck in floodwater and could see a woman inside waving for help.  Atkins waded through waist-high waters to the vehicle.

“She handed me her purse. I just told her to get out. She got out through the window. I thought it’d be best to carry her on my back. She got on my back. She asked for help one time, and then I got her to safety.”

He carried her just until they came to a place where the water was only ankle deep, then she proceeded on her own steam.  The woman, a nurse, was on her way to work early Thursday and attempted to drive through the flooding caused by the hurricane.  You can imagine how important it was for her to get to work … no doubt many are in need of medical attention during this disaster … and Mr. Atkins made sure she got there all in one piece.

From Afghanistan to Sanibel Island

South Florida’s Sanibel Island was cut off from the mainland when Hurricane Ian swept away the connecting bridge.  Sanibel Island is home to about 7,000 people, many of them elderly.  Add in wind and flood damage to their homes and it’s a recipe for disaster.  Enter Bryan Stern, a veteran of the U.S. military, and co-founder of Project Dynamo, a grassroots group that helps rescue Americans from Afghanistan and Ukraine.

On Wednesday night, as the storm was battering Florida, Stern and others began gathering crews, boats, and even crowbars for the urgent task that would soon be at hand: rescuing hundreds of people who might get trapped by floodwaters.

“As soon as the sun came up, we started rolling.”

As of yesterday’s news report, Stern and his group had rescued about 20 people, some trapped atop furniture within their homes.  According to Tim Barrett, the training division chief for the Sanibel Fire Department …

“It sort of restores your view of humanity. You see people chipping in and they aren’t getting paid for it. There’s even people whose homes are destroyed, but they’re helping them. They’re still helping other people.”

World Central Kitchen to the rescue!

Whenever and wherever there is a disaster, Chef José Andrés and his World Central Kitchen will be there feeding those in need!  The non-profit is currently operating a kitchen out of Fort Myers and distributing free meals at multiple sites throughout Southwest Florida.  From wildfires on the west coast to Ukrainian refugees and now to Florida where thousands are still without electricity, water, and some are left homeless by the devastation of Ian.

As of Monday, World Central Kitchen had distributed more than 150,000 hot meals and sandwiches. Those include both meals prepared by World Central Kitchen itself as well as around 30 food truck and restaurant partners, including Sarasota fine-dining staple Michael’s on East and Manatee County’s Anna Maria Oyster Bar (with assistance from Gus Sokos of Demetrios’ Pizza House.)

Once again, thumbs up to the fabulous people who give so much of themselves to feed the victims of disasters all ‘round the globe!

36 thoughts on “Good People Doing Good Things — In The Aftermath Of Ian”

  1. Aways love these posts! Have to get caught up. Been behind with being away!
    Aww on Dominic… Love how he wasn’t saving up for a Corvette! How many 7 year olds say that! LOL! So sweet of him!

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    • Yes, they are around, quietly going about the job of helping people. I’m always amazed at the helpers that come out in droves after some tragedy like this. You too, Michael!!! xx

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    • There are a number of celebrities who I’ve featured in my ‘good people’ posts in the past, and I certainly DO consider them heroes for the good they have done, but too often there is an ulterior motive. I much prefer finding the ‘everyday person’ who jumps in to become a hero!

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  9. Pingback: GOOD PEOPLE DOING GOOD THINGS — IN THE AFTERMATH OF IAN. |jilldennison.com | Ramblings of an Occupy Liberal

  10. The hurricane was awful and devastating to read about – can’t imagine experiencing it! – but the heroic stories and stories of resilience that have emerged and continue to emerge have been very inspiring to see. Way to go to helpers young and older.

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    • It was truly devastating for those in Florida, as was the one that hit Puerto Rico the week before. And still, people deny that climate change is real. Sigh. Every natural disaster, from wild fires in California to hurricanes and tornadoes seems to bring out the good people in droves! Just proves there is still humanity on the planet!

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  11. PROOF POSITIVE that people can come together to help others in need just from the kindness in their hearts. Your lead story shows that children have an innate kindness that we should not destroy by teaching them negativity. They don’t see colour or race, gender or age as a bad thing, just something different. When you view something as. different in the way a child does you lose your fear of it. It’s fear that makes you hate as an adult. Something you learned from your parents as a child,

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    • It makes you wonder what it is in some people that enables them to simply “walk on by” without caring. I used to think that every human was a ‘good people’ somewhere deep inside, but over the past few years, I’ve begun to question that. But you’re right … children start out, I think, with innate kindness and only turn into uncaring adults if that kindness is not properly nurtured. Still … I am always heartened when I do the ‘good people’ posts by just how many humanitarians there are out there.
      Cwtch

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