MIAMI – Miami Gardens is helping those affected by Hurricane Ian.
On Monday morning, a tractor-trailer loaded with water, food, toiletries, diapers and more, all from donations in the city of Miami Gardens, set off for Harlem Heights on the West Coast. , just north of Fort Myers Beach.
The fundraiser was sponsored by the rapper Flor Rida.
In addition to the goods truck, a food truck also made the trip to serve hot meals.
“It’s about giving back to the community,” said Chelsea Wilkes, owner of Southern Belle’s Kitch’n food truck.
Residents of this region say they feel left behind after the storm.
“Fort Myers Beach, McGregor Boulevard, Marco Island, nothing in Harlem Heights. So we definitely felt left out,” said Terry Mobley, a Harlem Heights pastor.
“I don’t have to live in Sanibel or Fort Myers Beach to be one of the people they should care about, because it seems to me that’s all they care about at this point,” Mary said. Broomfield, a resident of Harlem Heights.
Miami Gardens officials said the Lee County NAACP asked them for help.
“We often see it with natural disasters. African-American communities are the last to get resources,” Miami Gardens Vice Mayor Reggie Leon said.
Leon said they were more than happy to answer the call for help.
“We’re in a good place where we can help our brothers and sisters and we want to make sure we’re able to do that. You never know, it’s still hurricane season so we might need help one day, so I want to make sure we can because we’re a financially strong city and we have people here who are willing to give,” said Leon.
Items on the large platform included food, dozens of pallets of bottled water and marked toiletries for the minority communities of Dunbar and Harlem Heights, both of which were hit hard by the storm.
Harlem Heights is a distressed community of approximately 1,400 residents located 6 miles north of Fort Myers Beach, which was also devastated by the storm.
The latest census showed that half of the residents there currently live below the poverty line and Harlem Heights was struggling to get hurricane relief supplies.
Harlem Heights resident Mary Broomfield told CBS 4 that after the hurricane flooded her home and caused extensive damage, she is grateful for the help.
“It’s a blessing to this community where so much of it is devastated (and) that we received this help from Miami Gardens,” she said. “A much needed help here in Fort Myers. I appreciate that so much.”
Cookie Broomfield, daughter of Mary Broomfield, agreed.
“I feel good. I’m ecstatic. These people need it. They really need it.” said the young woman. “I just got the power back and it’s been so difficult. We need the help so badly and it’s legitimate help,”
“It makes me happy,” said Anahi Morales, another Harlem Heights resident. “It means a lot. It shows that they care a lot. They want to help us. And instead of sitting at home, they are taking action and helping us.”
The Lee County NAACP had issued a plea for help, a request that the city and Vice Mayor Reggie Leon said he and other city leaders felt compelled to respond to help.
They launched a two-day campaign to collect items in a trailer sponsored by rapper FLO RIDA and based at Miami Carol City Park.
Teresa Hornstein and Peter D’Oench, CBS 4 reporters contributed to this report.
CBS Miami Team
