• Sarah Schmitt

Bonny Lake in Deep Waters Given New Hope

Bonny Lake, FL (October 16, 2024)- Continued efforts have been made to reach communities still in distress after the battering of Hurricane Milton.  The Salvation Army was first on the ground to serve hot meals in Polk County, Florida at Bonny Lake. Today, canteen crews provided food, comfort, and emotional and spiritual care to residents of this small-town community who are still surrounded by water and have little means of receiving services. Many are without transportation as their vehicles sit in standing water caused by breached water ways flooding streets and walkways. Survivors walked and rode bikes through the heat for the luxury of a hot meal and a cold water.

This small community has banded together with neighbors helping neighbors to carry boxes of water, clamshells of hot food, and any provisions they could for those who were unable to leave their homes. Volunteers in this mostly older community stood beside the mobile feeding unit calling shut-ins to see who was in need. Others stood outside the local convenience store to let any passing motorists know that free food was available and to come eat. Residents of the community have felt forgotten and detached with no ability to get out. Salvation Army volunteers, officers, and canteen crews were received with sincere appreciation at “being found.” Survivors were eager to tell their stories and relay that many other people could only be accessed via jon boats. These small boats not only provide the only way to bring supplies to neighbors but in turn offer these neighbors a way through deep waters to get to dry land.

Major Jesse Chapman gladly accepted an offer to ride along on one of these trips. Jon boats were loaded with food, laundry detergent, and water to take to those who were otherwise inaccessible. One elderly man walked through waist deep water just to get a hot meal. Major Chapman spent the day praising the faith and resilience to those who captained the jon boats and listening to their accounts of the storm. As they made their way from house to house, they were consistently asked if the neighbor “over there was offered supplies and food”, each member of the community looking out for one another.

One woman lost her husband mere weeks prior to Hurricane Milton destroying her home. She exhaustedly told Major Chapman, “I don’t know what to do” but also saying the words “His grace is sufficient for me” had taken on an all-new meaning.

As the day continued the questions continued. “How are we going to get our children to school?”  Many residents have stayed in their homes because they don’t have anywhere to go, and they are trying to salvage anything they can.

A local volunteer hero to many in the community spoke of the hope that Salvation Army has brought to the community, “God has brought The Salvation Army here today to be the hands and feet of prayers” to meet the needs in His name.

The Salvation Army remains committed to providing relief to those affected by Hurricane Milton and offering messages of God’s healing and hope to all those in need.