DeKalb Legislative Community Cabinet collecting bottled water to assist storm-battered Fort Myers, FL

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—The DeKalb Legislative Community Cabinet will host a community breakfast meeting on Saturday, Nov. 5, 9 to 11 a.m., and conduct a bottled water drive to assist residents in Fort Myers, FL at the meeting.

The DeKalb community is urged to bring bottled water donations with them to the free breakfast, which will be held in the auditorium at Southwest DeKalb High School, 2863 Kelley Chapel Rd., Decatur.

Fort Myers, located in southwest Florida, is rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which reportedly hit landfall as a Category 4 storm packing 150 mph winds and water surges that destroyed many homes, businesses and schools there.

Stan Watson, a former Georgia legislator who heads the DeKalb Legislative Community Cabinet, said he wants to make sure that the Fort Myers School District receives the bottled water to assist families in need. The school district, which serves about 90,000 students, has been working with community food distributions and hosting food pickups at the district’s central office, according to news reports.

“We’re partnering with our local community which includes churches, schools, labor unions, fraternities, and sororities to support those children affected by Hurricane Ian in Florida,” said Watson.

Watson said that members of the community can donate bottled water at the DeKalb Legislative Community Breakfast, or drop off water at the Southwest DeKalb High School Band Room Monday through Friday, 12 noon until 4 p.m.

“The Southwest DeKalb High School band is one of our partners and they are challenging all other bands, athletic departments, and students to send water to the children in Fort Myers Florida School District,” Watson said.

Watson also said organizers are reaching out to supermarkets including Kroger, Publix, and Aldi to help with the donation drive. Teamsters Local 728 is providing the truck and a driver to deliver the water to Ft. Myers, Florida, he said.

Watson launched the DeKalb Legislative Community Cabinet breakfast in 1996 and has utilized this platform to connect elected and appointed officials, public safety representatives, and county, state, and federal services and resources with the community.

The Cabinet’s community breakfast is always free to attend.