Hurricane Isaias is long gone after tearing through the Panhandle, and while many people have power back, the challenges don’t end there. Hundreds of dollars’ worth of food has been thrown out, power outages persist, and damaged homes require costly repairs.
After seeing Facebook posts from local residents struggling to find essentials, two neighbors decided to help however they could.
Crestview couple Ryan Patten and Nikki Greggins have stepped up to help fill the gap by organizing a community-wide donation drive to support those still recovering. They have delivered assistance to families in Pensacola, Baker, Niceville, Crestview, and other nearby communities.
“A lot of people in this economy live paycheck to paycheck. So when something like [the hurricane] happens, they don’t have the funds to replenish what was lost during that time,” Nikki commented. “Yeah, they may be able to do it in two weeks when they get paid, but in the meantime… that’s a struggle for them. We’re just trying to bridge that gap.”
When asked why they decided to do this, Nikki explained, “We’ve both been in situations where we’ve needed help, and one, it’s hard to ask. Nobody wants to ask for help, right?”
Drawing on their own experiences, they began collecting donations and connecting families with supplies. Donations that started with their own pockets and have since shifted into asking the community to donate whatever they can.
“I made a [Facebook] post about collecting donations, and people started donating, so we started helping,” Ryan noted.
The need remains significant. With many struggling with financial strain and lack of transportation, families are struggling to replace what they lost. Many food distribution organizations are ending for those affected by the hurricane, leaving people with even fewer resources.
Water and food are the top priorities, since some stores, mainly in the Pensacola area, have limited supplies of refrigerated products, and many families are still without water.
“If anybody wants to donate, please let us know. We’re trying to do what we can. Our finances are tight ourselves because we also had to replenish our refrigerator. We’re running around [using] gas and just trying to get people the things they need… We are just two people out here trying to help.”
If anybody wishes to help by donating, you can reach out to Ryan Patten via Facebook or at 302-622-2953.
