A local 30A writer gives a first-hand account of her day spent with a local church as part of the relief efforts being mounted all across the Florida Panhandle in the wake of Hurricane Michael.

Traveling from Highway 30-A into Parker, Florida, took nearly three hours this past Thursday morning. With a pop-up tent, tools, and a carload of donated food and supplies, we were slated to meet with the relief team from Apostles By-the Sea of Rosemary Beach. The church has been servicing this hard-hit community since Hurricane Michael.

For those of you unfamiliar with Parker, it’s a small town in between Panama City Beach and Tyndall Air Force Base. Initially there was very little aid coming into Parker, so three times since the hurricane on October 10th, Apostles By-the-Sea has headed out there. On their first trip they met up with the National Guard, and now continue to supplement the guard’s efforts.

Cars lined up to get MREs (meals ready-to-eat), bottled water, and ice from the National Guard then access other supplies the church and its partner parishes have gathered. Volunteers visit each car to ask what they can use, everything from hygiene and paper products to diapers and shelf-stable snacks.

In addition to getting life-saving supplies, seeing a friendly face and receiving a window of time to tell their story, is palpably appreciated. I met one elderly woman who was looking for bandages and peroxide. After riding out the storm in a shelter, she is still recovering from a recent surgery. Helping hands and a listening ear assures our neighbors they will not be forgotten and may be as valuable of a “donation” as it gets.

“The need is so great. But the kindness, the generosity of spirit, the beautiful, sweet eyes of every person we encountered is a powerful, life-changing thing,” Apostle By-the-Sea’s Ashley Wallace affirmed.

While doing this kind of direct service, one notion is revealed over and over again. Even amidst a disaster of this scale and scope, people still don’t wish to take more than they need.

Fr. David Trautman, Pastor of Trinity Church in Thomasville, GA, one of many parishes who have partnered with Apostles By-the-Sea shared, “A moving encounter I had today was someone saying: we have enough for today, save that for someone who doesn’t.”

Stories like this are being replicated all over our area, with one resounding theme: selflessness comes in many forms. It is seen from both those helping and from those who have lost so much.

Those willing to help can donate online to Apostles By the Sea and The Sonder Project.

SARAH MURPHY ROBERTSON was born and raised in Ohio, met her husband in Atlanta, and they have one son, Reid. The Robertson trio moved to Santa Rosa Beach in March of 2011 and since their cars have sand in them year round feel certain this officially makes them locals. Sarah is a writer and editor and loves words something fierce.