Taryn Ashby
Colleges in Northern Central Florida partnered together to support areas impacted by Hurricane Ian.
Gainesville’s Santa Fe College (SF) President Paul Broadie and Florida Gateway College (FGC) President Larry Barrett teamed up to host a donation drive, with the supplies collected heading to southwest Florida on Monday.
SF and Lake City’s Florida Gateway College gathered donations for the State College of Florida-Manatee Sarasota.
“As soon as we realized that 28 colleges were hit by Ian and were in much need, I partnered with Florida Gateway College to begin a drive to collect supplies,” said Broadie in an interview. “The process started the day after the hurricane hit. Once we heard from our colleagues down in the South and the impact it had on their community and institutions, we stepped into action. It was that quick.”
On Monday morning, supplies were loaded in a semi-truck from FGC’s Commercial Vehicle Driving program in Lake City, then traveled to SF’s Northwest Campus before continuing to other locations.
“The truck is filled with water, probably over 1,000 toothbrushes, 4,000 diapers, formula, dog food, cleaning products, and so much more,” said Barrett in an interview. “Seeing President Broadie, chancellor Hebda, students, and everyone else out here today just gives me chills.”
The truck, filled with over a dozen pallets, left SF’s Northwest Campus around 9:30 a.m. and headed to Ocala to collect more items from the College of Central Florida.
FGC officials predicted the truck would arrive in southwest Florida by late Monday afternoon.
“Having people help out those in need is priceless, and it’s invaluable to a community,” said Florida Department of Education Chancellor Kathy Hebda in an interview.
