Honduran Hurricane ETA and IOTA Relief

https://ksltv.com/448995/utahns-helping-families-in-honduras-impacted-by-hurricane-eta/?fbclid=IwAR3oRuisIf57f8FbZJFYpj8grx-pDQbX5KVd06JaBLce9be379vf3y2ECLk

12/01/2020
If you are looking for a foundation or cause to donate to today for "Giving Tuesday" for #LightTheWorld, please consider donating to our GoFundMe. We are working to get much needed supplies to Honduras when Matthew and I move there in 2 weeks. Our community has donated many physical items such as tools, clothes, bedding, diapers, formula, medicine, first aid and hygiene kits as well as gift bags for the children. We are now in the process of sorting, packing and shipping these items in large shipping containers. Matthew has also kept work going in Honduras providing much needed food and water and other items to hundreds of Hondurans who are living in makeshift shelters in Honduras until the water recedes and more clean-up and rebuilding can commence. We are dedicated to helping Hondurans throughout the 2.5 years that we will be there, and hopefully beyond by setting up the means to continue the rebuilding process even after we are gone. The two category 4 and 5 hurricanes hitting within 2 weeks have devastated their country. This work is taking many charities and faith organizations to reach the widespread needs of those who have had not only their homes but their livelihoods destroyed as well. We are so grateful for the help and support we have already received and are excited to see what more we can do with your help!

11/18/2020: 

Hurricane Iota is bringing a lot more rain and consequent flooding. We are DEDICATED to helping relieve the continuing devastation that is happening in Honduras. Matthew and I  (and our four girls) will be living in Honduras for over two years and so the aftermath of these two natural disasters (Hurricane Eta and Hurricane Iota) will be something that we will be faced with long-term and we are excited about the difference we will make there with your help and how our/your lives will grow in the process of helping those in need.

THIS IS OUR VISION: Will you join us?

Short-term: FOOD/WATER/SHELTER - Funds donated here go directly to buy food and drinkable water for shelters and orphanages and people living in the streets with no shelter at all. We are also branching out and helping provide supplies to build temporary shelters until other more permanent housing can be built. There is an increased need right now because this second storm has caused significant flooding in almost all the same areas. It will be starting back over with the cleanup and we expect a surge of people looking for shelters.

Mid-term: FOOD/WATER/CLEAN-UP EFFORTS - Funds donated here will continue to aid in providing food, water and shelter in smaller amounts as the need decreases over time and will shift  to help cover the cost of shipping containers with donations of physical items such as hygiene kits, first-aid kits, tools such as wheel-barrows, shovels, rope, tarp, tents, mattresses, cleaning supplies, kitchen items (non-electrical) detergent, sponges, scrub brushes, towels, bedding etc. as well as small baggies for children with a small toy (non-battery operated), coloring book/pencils/crayons and small amount of candy. 

We are already accepting donations of physical items here in Utah that we are excited to ship by mid December, allowing us two weeks to collect these items from our fantastic friends and neighbors who have joined the cause and have caught the vision of making  a difference in difficult times.

Long-term: BUILDING ONE_BEDROOM HOMES - Many have had their houses completely washed away. These were people who had barely anything to start with and now have nothing. We are looking to join with Non-profit companies and also making one ourselves to help build small one bedroom homes in areas up away from the river's edge in an effort to provide much needed permanent sheltering of those struggling. Setting this up takes time but we feel it will be worth it and are moving as quickly as we can to move on all fronts. These homes will be built by the future home owner themselves and volunteers here in Honduras. It is amazing what the people of Honduras can do if they just have the supplies to do it. These one-bedroom homes can make the world of difference to a family who has only ever had shipping pallets nailed together with tarp or tin roofs. We see this being an ongoing effort that would become self-sustaining in-country but needs help getting off the ground by those here in the United States who are interested in making a long-term difference in Honduras.

PLEASE JOIN US and feel free to SHARE THIS VISION with those you may know who can help.

Below is a video link Matthew sent me today of San Pedro Sula's airport that had already flooded out with Hurricane Eta. Now it is flooded even more from Hurricane Iota. They had announced it would be closed for 30+ days for clean-up and repairs. This second hit is going to lengthen the clean-up time.

https://youtu.be/WHE-k5scpIU




11/7/2020:
Honduras was hit hard by Hurricane Eta last week causing major flooding. Hurricane Iota is now growing strong and is set to hit Monday (11/16/2020) and travel the same path  causing even more flooding in areas that are still 6 to 8 ft. underwater. Many people are living on the second floor of their homes because they have no where to go. Others live sheltered only by tarps hung over ropes if they have not been able to shelter elsewhere. The country is under Red alert and many areas are under evacuation orders. 

My husband Matthew and many of his Honduran neighbors are working tirelessly to provide bags of food and water and basic necessities to support life. These survival bags include water, rice, beans, canned meat, tomato sauce, flour, sugar, bread, toilet paper etc. as well as a small bag of candy for the children. He is able to scale the number of bags they prepare each day based on the amount of donations provided here.  These donations are saving lives. 

These funds donated here will also help purchase tools and materials for the clean-up as well as hygiene items and tarp and rope to make more temporary shelters that many of them will be using for months until the water from these two storms recedes. Many of these people have literally lost everything. No donation is too small!