In Collaboration with Procter & Gamble and Walmart, Matthew 25 Deploys to Provide Critical Services and Supplies to Areas Impacted by the Widespread Storm

AUGUST 8, 2024, BLUE ASH, OH – – – Matthew 25: Ministries, a humanitarian aid and disaster relief organization based in Blue Ash, OH, is responding to Tropical Storm Debby. The storm made landfall on Monday near Steinhatchee in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 1 hurricane. The slow-moving system created severe weather conditions including record-breaking rainfall exceeding 19 inches in some areas. The storm led to power outages, extreme flooding and storm surges, with water levels rising more than 20 feet above normal. Debby then moved across Florida and out into the Atlantic, making a second landfall in South Carolina Thursday morning and is predicted to move up the Atlantic Coast. Multiple states are experiencing heavy rainfall, leading to significant flooding and flood warnings. South Carolina has also been struck by tornadoes and multiple states along the east coast are under tornado watches.

In collaboration with Procter & Gamble and Walmart, Matthew 25: Ministries is deploying their Disaster Response Team equipped with a range of their fleet, including a Tide Loads of Hope Mobile Laundry unit, a shower trailer, and co-branded panel trucks. The team will offer critical services such as laundry and shower facilities and distribute essential supplies, including P&G personal care kits, baby products, paper goods, Zevo insect repellent, as well as additional items like garbage bags, cleaning supplies, and first aid and safety equipment provided by Cintas to areas affected by the flooding. Matthew 25 will also deploy the Duracell PowerForward truck, equipped to carry as many as 20,000 Duracell batteries as well as on-board charging stations for mobile devices. Additionally, Matthew 25’s disaster relief resource map, which shows locations for further services and supplies such as shelter and food, will be available at https://m25m.org/resourcemaps/. Matthew 25 is also in contact with our local partners and they are preparing shipments of aid for their immediate and long-term recovery efforts. Matthew 25 has responded to several hurricanes in Florida with services and supplies, including Hurricane Idalia in 2023, which struck just nine miles from where Hurricane Debby made landfall this week, and Hurricane Michael in 2018.

Tim Mettey, CEO of Matthew 25: Ministries, shared, “During these difficult moments, our hearts and efforts are focused on bringing hope and relief to those affected. With the support of our incredible partners, we are committed to providing the critical services and supplies needed to help these communities heal and rebuild.”

Matthew 25 is requesting monetary and product donations to supplement existing supplies and for restocking during their response to this and future disasters.

• Monetary donations: Donate online or mail checks to Matthew 25: Ministries, 11060 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242 (100% of donated funds designated for Tropical Storm Debby will be used for the purpose intended).
• Product donations: Please visit https://m25m.org/disaster/debby24/ for a list of requested items.

Matthew 25 responds to disasters domestically and internationally and provides both rapid
response and long-term support. In 2024, Matthew 25 has responded to multiple severe weather and tornado events that swept through portions of the Southeast in early January, tornadoes that struck middle Ohio in February, the Midwest tornadoes in March, the Great Plains tornadoes in April, South and Midwest tornadoes in May, Northern Midwest tornadoes in June, Hurricane Beryl in July, the Texas Wildfires and the Helena, AR water crisis. Matthew 25 is also continuing response for the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, which has now passed the two-year mark. Matthew 25: Ministries has shipped nearly 18 million pounds of supplies in 2024, including over 2 million pounds of disaster relief, and helped more than 22 million people.

For the most current information on Matthew 25: Ministries’ activities, please visit their website https://m25m.org/disaster/debby24/ or follow Matthew 25 on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/m25m.org, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/m25m_org/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/M25M_org. For more in-depth information about Matthew 25: Ministries’ humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts, please contact Michelle Jones mjones@m25m.org.

Matthew 25: Ministries accepts cash, check, credit card and online donations for ongoing humanitarian aid and disaster relief programs, as well as product donation support. Matthew 25 also welcomes volunteers six days a week at their Blue Ash facility.

ABOUT MATTHEW 25: MINISTRIES: Matthew 25: Ministries rescues and reuses approximately 20,000,000 pounds of products each year and redistributes them to the poorest of the poor and disaster victims. Each year, Matthew 25: Ministries impacts the lives of more than 25,000,000 individuals throughout the United States and around the world. Matthew 25 is included on Forbes’ 2023 list of America’s Top 100 Charities, is a 4-star nonprofit on Charity Navigator and has earned a Platinum-Level Candid Exchange seal. Matthew 25: Ministries is accredited by the Better Business Bureau through the “Wise Giving Alliance Standards.” For more information, or to schedule an interview, contact Michelle Jones mjones@m25m.org at Matthew 25: Ministries (513) 793-6256, or visit https://m25m.org/.