Back-to-back historic hurricanes Helene and Milton destroyed homes across the southeastern United States, leaving families without access to power, food and water. As part of our commitment to give back, Mosaic invested in partner organizations across Florida to help the communities we call home rebuild.

Several years ago, Mosaic established storm relief funds with critical community partners across the region. These funds can be used immediately after a storm hits, making quick relief possible for those in need. Many partners used these funds following Helene but needed additional resources on the heels of Milton. That’s why Mosaic made the decision to launch a special grant round aimed at expanding our reach even further.

In total, Mosaic has committed half a million dollars in the last month alone to hurricane relief efforts. Learn more about our efforts helping rebuild our communities and helping our neighbors get back on their feet.

Charlotte

Crossroads Hope Academy

Crossroads Hope Academy is a foster home where teen boys can feel safe and secure, while preparing for the future. Mosaic awarded Crossroads $15,000 for generator maintenance and fuel costs, as well as hurricane food and supplies at the foster youth group home campus. The funds also helped cover window replacements.

Peace River Wildlife Center

A nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation and education center, Peace River Wildlife Center suffered damage to 80 percent of its fence following Hurricane Milton. Mosaic’s donation of $15,000 will be used to replace the fence, which is required by PRWC’s licensing agencies, so animals can return to the center. The remaining funds will be used for infrastructure repair to habitats, replacing plumbing and electrical outlets, and tree removal.

DeSoto

Mosaic’s donation of $15,000 to the DeSoto County Chamber of Commerce was awarded to organizations in the community to provide immediate and impactful support to those affected. The selected organizations were North Hillsborough Baptist Church, Hope DeSoto, the Arcadia Police Department and the Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation.

Hardee

Hardee Help Center

At the Hardee Help Center, Director Stephanie Leaky expressed her gratitude to Mosaic for ongoing support.

“Mosaic’s contributions have been instrumental in helping us meet the basic needs of our community, especially during times of disaster,” she said.

Mosaic’s donation of $10,000 was used to replace food supplies utilized to assemble hurricane preparation boxes; cover the cost of generator fuel; and provide financial assistance to individuals and families affected by the storms. Additionally, Hardee Help Center was able to hire a social media firm to assist in sharing vital information to those in need before and after the hurricanes, making the community aware of available resources when they were in need.

Recover Hardee

Mosaic awarded $15,000 to Recover Hardee as part of a special grant application process following Hurricane Milton. The funds will be used to complete emergency response training; add additional information hubs to rural areas, develop a recovery app for Hardee County residents to use before and after a storm; stock disaster supplies; host preparedness events; and market Recover Hardee on social media to engage the public before the next storm season begins.

Hillsborough

Community Foundation of Tampa Bay

Mosaic donated $10,000 to the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, which will be used to benefit organizations across the Tampa Bay region.

Metropolitan Ministries

Mosaic’s donation of $50,000 after Hurricane Helene enabled Metropolitan Ministries to fill initial gaps before FEMA assistance and insurance kicked in for those affected by the storms. This includes hot meals, bagged lunches, grocery gift cards, hygiene items and cleaning supplies. Mosaic also sponsored a pop up where people could pick up those necessary items. Thanks to support from Mosaic and other organizations, Metropolitan Ministries has been able to help over 38,000 households affected by the hurricanes so far.

Caption: Mosaic sponsored a pop-up for Metropolitan Ministries. Photo courtesy: Metropolitan Ministries 

Hillsborough Education Foundation

Mosaic donated 27 $100 gift cards to the Hillsborough Education Foundation. The funds were used for 27 families from Pinecrest Elementary School to go grocery shopping to replenish food that was lost during the hurricanes.

Manatee 

Anna Maria Island Community Center

Mosaic donated $15,000 to Anna Maria Island Community Center to restore and enhance infrastructure that sustained damage following Hurricane Milton. This includes repairing essential fencing, gates and light poles, and installing a generator for reliable backup power.

Foundation for Dreams & Dream Oaks Camp

The foundation was awarded $10,000 from Mosaic as part of a special grant application process following Hurricane Milton. The funds will be used to repair roofs on multiple buildings to prevent additional water damage, as well as stabilize the grounds to prevent erosion and remove 30-40 trees that were knocked over during the storm. The foundation operates a camp that provides year-round weekend and summer residential camps for individuals with special needs, including varying ability levels and chronic/terminal illnesses.

Caption: Fallen trees damaged camp property. Photo courtesy: Foundation Facebook page.

Manatee Community Foundation

Using $60,000 received from Mosaic, including a $10,000 storm relief fund, The Manatee Community Foundation worked closely with Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee to fund and deliver necessary water, food and cleaning supplies to nearly all mobile home estates throughout the county following Hurricane Milton.

Caption: Mobile homes were destroyed following Hurricane Milton in Florida. Photo courtesy: Manatee Community Foundation

Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee

Following Hurricane Helene, Mosaic volunteers helped distribute 11 pallets of food, cleaning supplies and nonperishables to families affected by flooding.  On Oct. 6, Mosaic sponsored a Stuff the Bus event where community members could fill a bus with nonperishable items in anticipation of Hurricane Milton. Additionally, Mosaic donated $50,000 to Meals on Wheels PLUS to aid in delivering meals to the homebound and those displaced by the storms. Two days after Milton, Meals on Wheels PLUS had already delivered more than 10,000 meals into the community.

Myakka City Family Worship Center

Pastor Lynn Howell of Myakka Family Worship Center had prepared for hurricane season by stocking his barn with tarps, generators and chainsaws to help those in need. But when his barn caught fire in February, he lost most of the necessities he’d been saving. Once the barn was rebuilt, Mosaic stepped up by providing tarps from the procurement team and donating $10,000 to help Pastor Lynn replenish his emergency stockpile.

Palma Sola Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens saw between 20-30 trees fall during Hurricane Milton, including seven trees that were too large to be removed by volunteers. The $15,000 awarded by Mosaic allows the Botanical Gardens to have the trees professionally removed, making the area safe again.

Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida  

Dedicated to the protection and preservation of southwest Florida’s native wildlife, the Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida in Venice rehabilitates sick, injured and orphaned wildlife and then returns them to their natural habitat upon recovery. The center remains open during emergencies. Mosaic awarded $15,000 through a special grant application process to the center to purchase a generator to keep the center operating with power during emergencies.

Caption: A squirrel rehabilitating at the Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida. Photo courtesy: Wildlife Center Facebook page

Polk

Bartow Community Service Center

As part of a special grant period following Hurricane Milton, Mosaic donated $15,000 to Bartow Community Service Center to distribute food, water, generators and medical supplies to affected families within Polk County. Remaining funds will be used to build and stock a dedicated storage facility with nonperishable food, medical supplies, water and portable power sources.

United Way of Central Florida

Mosaic’s storm relief fund of $15,000 to United Way of Central Florida was used to help with temporary lodging for those that were displaced due to the storms; help those who faced loss of income; replenishing the food pantry after food was given to the public for hurricane prep; and reimbursement of fuel purchased for generators.

Statewide efforts

Mosaic’s statewide outreach included $100,000 to Volunteer Florida’s Florida Disaster Relief Fund. These monies are dispersed to different service organizations throughout the state that will serve individuals in their respective communities with disaster response and recovery. Additionally, Mosaic donated to the following organizations:

  • $6,000 to the Coast Guard Foundation to aid Coast Guard members and their families following natural disasters, including necessities, temporary housing and emergency travel.
  • $10,000 to Operation BBQ Relief, a pop-up food truck that provides free meals to those in need.
  • $15,000 to International Medical Corps to provide alternate power sources, refrigeration, ice packs, coolers, rental vehicles, medical equipment and baby necessities for health centers in Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto Counties.