Weeks after Hurricane Ian, Columbia nonprofits still lending support

A handful of Columbia nonprofits still are supporting areas affected by Hurricane Ian.

Hurricane Ian made landfall in South Florida on Sept. 28 as a Category 4 storm and worked its way up the East Coast. More than 20 days later, many areas — most in South Florida — continue to deal with widespread destruction in the storm’s wake. 

By the time it hit South Carolina, the hurricane had calmed to a Category 1 storm, limiting damages to the area. So the Midlands community has turned its focus to providing aid to the more-affected areas.

The South Carolina Red Cross is sending volunteers to affected areas and calling on people across the state to help finance that. 

Here’s what a couple of other organizations are doing:

USC DANCE MARATHON SUPPLY DRIVE

Last week, the University of South Carolina’s Dance Marathon program hosted a supply drive to benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. The Fort Myers hospital was forced to evacuate patients after losing power and access to potable water. 

Dance Marathon president Katie Torbert organized the drive. Participants were asked to donate paper products, cleaning products and non-perishable food items. In just two days, donors filled six large boxes, which were later mailed to the hospital in Southwest Florida. 

“We were anticipating filling like one, maybe two boxes, but we ended up filling six of the extra large boxes you can get at Staples,” Torbert said. 

The USC Dance Marathon is a student organization that funds the Child Life Program at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital. The organization is part of a nationwide network of Dance Marathon programs that support local Children’s Miracle Networks, such as Prisma Health Children’s, in their areas. 

“We were just very overwhelmed with not just the response within our organization, but just the USC community,” Torbert said.

CALLING ALL FIRST RESPONDERS: PETSINC WILL BOARD YOUR PETS

PETSinc offered to board pets for first responders heading to high-impact areas. PETSinc is a no-kill pet rescue center, focusing on pet adoption and rehabilitation, in West Columbia.

The organization posted a flyer to social media that said, “Hurricane Ian First Responders: We have boarding space available and will love on your fur baby while you are serving to help communities and victims of the hurricane.” 

The nonprofit’s media director, Kathy Morrison, said the group always tries to help out during and after a major hurricane. 

“Volunteerism helps tremendously,” Morrison said. 

The nonprofit usually shelters 75 to 100 animals but can see a large influx during natural disasters. Morrison said the best way for the public to help is through donations. 

“We ask the public for supplies like paper towels, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, bleach, toilet paper — because it’s double, sometimes triple, the work of keeping the shelter clean and sanitized,” Morrison said.