From the Survival Podcast: Episode-2395- Joshua Sloan with an Update on Citizens Assisting Citizens

Our teenage daughter loves to go on the yearly mission trips with the youth group at church…….helping strangers in need with painting, repairing porches, building handicap ramps, or clearing brush and trash from their properties. The gratitude these poor people show always moves the kids to tears. CAC is like that — only it’s kind of a surprise mission trip, not planned months in advance. We have to deploy relatively quickly with food, water, hygiene kits and cleaning supplies after a natural disaster turns our fellow citizens’ world upside down. I consider it a blessing to be able to serve others, and being associated with the tireless and dedicated volunteers at CAC is an honor.

Working as a volunteer for CAC has been an amazing experience for me. When Hurricane Michael hit so close to us in the Florida Panhandle, I was ready to help. CAC shipped relief supplies to our area and a group of volunteers got together and made food, hygiene and cleaning kits. Our crew made 6 trips to the affected areas and passed out these supplies. By doing this, we met people who needed help in removing trees from their cars and homes. We were also able to provide a team of volunteers with chainsaws and a big will to help. The work was hard but so rewarding and recipients were very thankful. I am proud to be a part of CAC and plan on being part of this awesome group for a long time.
Molly Davis
Freeport, FL

I am one of those behind the scenes volunteers who is proud to support CAC and its Volunteers. Every time the CAC Team volunteers shared their stories during Hurricane Florence, my heart swelled. Hundred, maybe even thousands of people  are helped by a couple dozen strangers , the several dozen donors who funded them, and a couple of organizations who were not in it for the fame or glory. There IS hope for America!

I would like to thank CAC for their generous support of Generations United Church Hurricane Michael relief efforts. Due to your generosity with supplies and gas cards we were able to touch the lives of so many in Bay County. Thank you for all you do helping those in need.

We’re from Tampa and when Hurricane Michael hit the Panama City/Mexico Beach area, we wanted to help those affected. With no experience or real plan in place, we loaded up our car with what supplies we could think of and decided to make the drive and figure it out on the way. A friend of mine, and an avid TSP listener, recommended I check CAC Team out. It was the best thing that happened for us. Within an hour or two of getting in contact with CAC we went from an aimless, plan-less couple, to one with a plan and a destination. Once in the area we met with other helpers and hurricane victims. We spent the weekend assisting, and the entire time we were in constant communication with a group of the CAC Team providing each other updates, leads, recommendations, etc. It wasn’t until a day or two in that I realized that the people I was in constant contact with were helping from all over the place (U.S. and abroad), not just in the affected area). It was an amazing and eye-opening experience for us. Everyone we spoke with and met with was super friendly and great to work with. I look forward to working with CAC for a long time to come.

Working with CAC has been one of the most profound experiences of my life. Not only do we help those in desperate need during a disaster, but we empower ordinary people to provide that assistance first hand. I am proud to have been a part of these efforts, albeit remotely, and sharing in the experience of our “boots on the ground” volunteers.