Florida7/3/2025 Greater Pine Island In September of 2022, the island was devastated by Hurricane Ian with 150 mph winds that swept through the island for over 12 hours. This was one of the most powerful storms to ever strike Florida. The island’s communities were devastated. Tragically, five lives were lost, and 90% of the buildings, including homes and businesses, sustained damage. A staggering 20 percent of these structures were classified by county officials as having “major damage,” while 3 percent were completely destroyed.
The island was further isolated when the road leading to the Little Pine Island bridge was washed away. Left without access to the mainland or any on-Island government or coordinating entity to address their immediate needs, Islanders and island-based nonprofits sprang into action. Neighbors rallied together, providing support and assistance to one another in the aftermath of the devastating storm. Since then, the island has been hit by Idalia, Debby, Helene, and Milton. Week of Compassion has partnered with Greater Pine Island Alliance (GPIA) Long-Term Recovery Group since 2022 and is now collaborating to refer volunteers to help with ongoing recovery efforts. -- minimum age: 14 -- group size: ideal group size is 4-5; can accommodate larger groups, split into teams of 4-5 (each w/ transportation & strong group leader) -- housing: handled case by case. -- meals: responsibility of the group (sometimes local organizations provide lunches) Dates for all locations are available upon request. Comments are closed.
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