After flash floods swept through Kerr County, Texas a week ago, Cape Coral District 4 Councilmember and Texas native Jennifer Nelson-Lastra has stepped up and started organizing relief efforts with the Southwest Florida Community Foundation.
Here’s what you need to know:
Texas flood: historic natural disaster
Heavy rain swept through Texas on July 4, leading to significant flash flooding. More 100 people have died, and around 160 people are still unaccounted for as of July 11.
“After I turned eight-years-old, I was allowed to attend Mo Ranch, which was a Presbyterian summer camp in Hunt, Texas, which is in Kerr County,” said Nelson-Lastra.
She grew up in Houston, and learned to tread water in the Guadalupe River, the same one that flooded.
Nelson-Lastra recalls, with the silhouette of Texas on a necklace around her neck, getting a series of texts and phone calls during Cape Coral’s Red White and Boom Independence Day firework show.
“While I was at Red White and Boom, my phone was going off from my friends, telling me ‘Hey, we’re okay,'” Nelson-Lastra said. “The reason that this hit so close to home for me is because many of my friends send their children there.”
That, coupled with friends calling her for help, spurred her into action.
Texas flood: Coordinating relief in SWFL
Nelson-Lastra immediately began coordinating with other organizations, teaming up with Sen. Rick Scott’s office and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast (BBBSAF), an organization focused on helping youths facing adversity. Kelly Palmer, the senior director of development for BBBSAF, said that she was eager to help.
“[Jennifer-Nelson] asked me if I would like to help, and I said yes, absolutely, because that’s what we do in Florida,” said Palmer. “I have a young cousin who’s in Kerrville, who luckily was unharmed, but they have many family members who have passed away or been affected.”
Sen. Scott posted a statement of support on his X profile. It reads:
“The news coming out of Texas is heartbreaking. Please join Ann and me as we pray for the victims and their families. Florida stands with you!”
They set up a drop-off location for donations at Bruno’s of Brooklyn Italian Eatery in Downtown Fort Myers. Genevieve Bruno co-owner and friend of Nelson-Lastra, was more than happy to donate their space to the cause. She did the same thing during the flooding after Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.
“I noticed her post [on Facebook] and said ‘I’m going to reach out’,” Genevieve said. “I kind of coordinated with my husband the same exact thing where we would be a spot for collections and then do it where they can drive it up.”
Calcedonio Bruno, Genevieve’s husband and co-owner, added that they would be matching donations as well.
“With what’s been pledged, there’s over $10,00,” Calcedonio said.
With Genevieve, and all the staff at Brooklyn Bruno’s, the decision to give back was easy.
“I think since the day we’ve opened, our instinct is always to give back,” she said. “We’ve been very blessed and our goal is always to help pay it forward.”
How you can help
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation set up a donation page for the SWFL Hearts for Hill Country Fund, where you can donate money. Nelson-Lastra added that donations of essentials, like anything belonging in a first-aid kit, are extremely appreciated.
“They need bandages, they need alcohol wipes, they need Neosporin, they need anything you would think to be in a first-aid kit,” she said. “They need it because there’s still so many volunteers there that are doing rescue and recovery.”
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral councilmember, a Texas native, sets up flood donation sites: what to know
Reporting by Layza Pinero Resto, Fort Myers News-Press / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
