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As Southwest Florida recovers from Hurricane Irma, its residents are doing what they do best: Giving back. Collection efforts have started to help the victims of the storm.
We'll be adding to this list as more fundraisers and volunteer efforts get organized locally. If you know of any others, feel free to add them in the comments or contact us here.
- Collier Comes Together Disaster Relief Fund: The Community Foundation of Collier County has started this fund in collaboration with several other local governmental entities and the United Way of Collier County to assist hurricane victims.
- SWFL Hurricane Relief Fund: The Southwest Florida Community Foundation teamed with the United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties to provide assistance for those displaced by the storm.
- Hurricane Irma Generosity Fund: Cape Coral Community Foundation organized this fund for communities around the Cape.
- Harry Chapin Food Bank: The organization is seeking monetary, supply and food donations. It also announced a six-week, $500,000 fundraising campaign on Sept. 22.
- Red Sox-Twins Hurricane Irma Relief Fund: The two teams are joining forces to encourage donations that will be distributed through nonprofits in a five-county area.
- Lee County volunteer opportunities: The United Way Volunteer Center has started a clearinghouse for nonprofits in need of help.
- Regrow the Naples Botanical Garden: The garden was hit hard and needs help coming back.
- Help Rebuild the Wonder Gardens: The Everglades Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs has a GoFundMe page seeking donations after much of the park was seriously damaged.
- The Hurricane Irma Relief Fund for Immokalee and Southwest Florida Farmworker Communities: This fund is "by and for Immokalee and other farmworker communities in Southwest Florida."
- Recovery SWFL: Website that serves as a clearinghouse for ways to donate and volunteer.
- Norris Furniture & Interiors: The store is accepting donations for hurricane shelters.
- SWFL Friends Helping Friends After Irma: A Facebook group that seeks to connect those in need to those who can give.
- Rotary Club of Bonita Springs: The club is coordinating efforts to cleanup flooded homes in the south Lee / north Collier area.
- NCH Community Blood Center: Blood donations are needed.
- Grace Place for Children & Families: The nonprofit has started a fund to purchase emergency relief items for families in need.
- East West Fine Art / Gallery on Fifth: The Mercato gallery is collecting newspapers, towels, blankets, and large and medium dog crates for the Collier Domestic Animal Services. Also, donate to Spay-Lee Animal Rescue and get entered into a raffel to win a painting.
- Baby Basics of Collier County: The nonprofit is seeking to provide diapers to babies whose families have been affected by the storm.
- St. Matthew's House: The shelter is seeking donations after seeing an influx in need after the hurricane.
- Collier Mentally Strong Match Fund: The David Lawrence Center started the fund with $10,000 in hopes the community can match it. They are asking for cash donations and gift cards for clothing, gas and food stores. Cash donations can be made at davidlawrencecenter.org. Donation drop-offs can be made to the main DLC campus located off of Golden Gate Parkway at 6075 Bathey Lane, Naples, 34116.
- Operation Float: The organization originally started to help in Harvey relief is now also assisting in Naples, Everglades City and Immokalee.
- Community Cooperative Hurricane Irma Relief Fund: The nonprofit's annual Becoming Cosmopolitan fundraiser has been cancelled. Instead, sponsors are asking the $50,000 put toward the event be matched and given to help in Irma recovery.
- RCMA Hurricane Relief Fund: The Florida Specialty Crop Foundation and the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association is raising money to help the Redlands Christian Migrant Association.
- Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary: The National Audubon Society sanctuary is seeking monetary donations to help it recover from the storm.
- The Shelter for Abused Women and Children: The shelter reports that its pantry and pet kennel is in desperate need of supplies.
For a full list of Southwest Florida nonprofits, see our Nonprofit Listings.