Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

SBDR receives $400,000 from Florida’s disaster fund

  • October 28, 2022
  • Florida Baptist Convention
  • Disaster Relief, Florida, Latest News
Rich Rigdon, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief operations manager, expresses gratefulness for the donation from the Florida Disaster Fund and states that DR volunteers are addressing both physical and spiritual needs of Florida residents.
(Photo courtesy of Florida Baptist Convention)

SBDR receives $400,000 from Florida’s disaster fund

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has been awarded $400,000 in funding from the Florida Disaster Fund to help the state’s residents with relief efforts following Hurricane Ian’s landfall in southwest Florida Sept. 28.

Florida first lady Casey DeSantis announced the news in a recent press conference that SBDR is one of several nonprofit organizations to receive the funding as hurricane relief efforts continue in the state.

“We are excited to supplement the efforts of nonprofits that are on the ground helping Floridians navigate the challenges of rebuilding following Hurricane Ian,” she said Oct. 21. “By harnessing the charitable contributions of the private sector and thousands of generous Americans who have donated, we are providing real help to Floridians in need.”

Valuing partnership

David Coggins, director of Florida Baptist Disaster Relief, expressed appreciation for the funding.

“This gift is a very generous gift and recognition from the first lady’s office of the value that Florida Baptist Disaster Relief and the larger community of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief bring to the state’s efforts to bring help to the citizens of Florida in times of crisis such as these,” he said.

“We value very much our partnership with the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the extended partnership with the first lady’s office as well. The recognition of our volunteers’ efforts to bring the hope of Christ in the midst of this devastation has certainly been validated by our state leadership with this generous gift of resources.”

A portion of the funds, Coggins noted, will be shared with the numerous state conventions that have sent SBDR teams to help with relief efforts in Florida. “We will be working with SBDR through Send Relief to send a portion of the donations on to those states,” he said.

Ongoing work

Florida Baptist Disaster Relief efforts began within 48 hours of category 4 Hurricane Ian’s assault on southwest Florida, and the efforts will be ongoing for the days, weeks and months to come.

During the DeSantis press conference, Rich Rigdon, operations manager for Florida Baptist Disaster Relief, said that in the first 20 days following Hurricane Ian’s landfall, SBDR had served more than 600,000 meals to those impacted by the hurricane.

“It’s not done yet. We are continuing to do that. We are making assessments on properties. We’re going out. We’re doing tree jobs; we’re doing mud outs; we’re mitigating mold; we’re taking care of tarps and roofing. And we’re meeting spiritual needs, and we’re sharing Christ,” Rigdon said.

“It is a blessing for us that we get to receive this gracious donation,” he noted. “It is so unbelievable to work with a state and have a state that has done so well in trusting us to be good stewards” in using the funds to meet needs.”

In response, DeSantis stated that she walked alongside an SBDR group, representing several state conventions, helping with hurricane relief efforts in southwest Florida.

“To watch your operation in action, to see them getting meals, putting them together, going into the neighborhoods, you had a laundry center where people could wash their clothes,” she said. “You guys have thought of everything. And to see that you’re coming from so far away to help folks in need and the smiles you put on people’s faces when they saw you coming with your arms wide open and food and other supplies was really something to see.

“We appreciate everything that you and your organization have done.”


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Margaret Colson and originally published by the Florida Baptist Convention. 

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Seminaries partner to equip leaders, care for Ukrainians in crisis
    Seminaries partner to equip leaders, care for Ukrainians in crisis
    March 23, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Longtime NOBTS registrar Paul Gregoire dies
    Longtime NOBTS registrar Paul Gregoire dies
    March 23, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Endangered youth: When parents fail their children
    Endangered youth: When parents fail their children
    March 23, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Seminaries partner to equip leaders, care for Ukrainians in crisis

Could theological education be part of the solution for trauma? Leadership at Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary thinks so.  Sirens cut

Longtime NOBTS registrar Paul Gregoire dies

Paul Gregoire, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary registrar for 29 years, passed away March 21 after a brief battle with cancer. “Paul Gregoire was a

boy leaning on black wall

Endangered youth: When parents fail their children

Researchers today consider bad parenting one of the most important public health issues facing our society. Uninvolved, abusive, irresponsible, absent or immature parents are endangering

Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87

Samuel Shahid, professor of missions in the Islamic Studies program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1998–2013, died March 2. He was 87 years old.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel