When Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton struck, their devastation was felt throughout South Hillsborough County. Among the many organizations affected was Mary & Martha House, a vital shelter offering emergency and transitional housing to houseless women, victims of domestic violence, and their children. For over 40 years, this shelter has been a beacon of hope, helping vulnerable families rebuild their lives and find stability. But after the hurricanes, Mary & Martha House itself needed support.
A Call for Help
The shelter endured severe flooding, leaving all furniture ruined and critical repairs such as demolition and mold remediation urgently required. Beyond the immediate physical damage, families displaced by the storms were relying on the shelter for security and support.
Mary & Martha House leadership appealed to the community for help, utilizing Community Foundation Tampa Bay’s Critical Needs List. This resource is an always-active list of nonprofits with unexpected, unbudgeted and urgent needs. Unlike a competitive grants process, it is an opportunity for organizations to easily share specific support needs related to the hurricanes with Community Foundation Tampa Bay and its donors.
A Community Effort Begins
Thanks to the incredible generosity of donors who saw the shelter’s request for support on the Critical Needs List, the foundation was able to answer Mary & Martha House’s call for help. The grant they received provided essential funding for the repairs and support needed to get the shelter back on its feet.
“This funding will impact our community more than you can ever know,” said Bill Chini, Executive Director of Mary & Martha House. “The gift we’ve received from our friends at Community Foundation Tampa Bay brought us to tears. We were staring down a very dark tunnel regarding repair costs. This donation allows us to see light at the end of the tunnel.”
The grant they received through Community Foundation Tampa Bay helped address the immediate needs of the displaced families by providing hotel vouchers, ensuring they have a safe place to stay until the shelter is restored.
“Our top priority is to provide these families with temporary housing while we work to refurbish the shelter as quickly as possible,” shared Chini.
Yet, the challenge ahead is much bigger than these initial steps. “Rebuilding will be a process, but nothing is impossible with our community behind us. We are forever grateful for their continued support.”
A Long-Term Commitment to Recovery
Disasters like Hurricane Helene remind us of the fragility of life for so many. For families facing homelessness, domestic violence, or economic instability, shelters like Mary & Martha House are lifelines that extend beyond emergency relief—they provide long-term support that enables individuals to find permanent housing, meaningful employment, and renewed hope for the future.
“We are inspired by the remarkable generosity of our donors,” said Marlene Spalten, CEO of Community Foundation Tampa Bay. “Despite their own challenges, they have risen to support those most affected and are making a meaningful difference in our community’s recovery.”
Support for Tampa Bay nonprofits’ Critical Needs is an investment in the future of our community—a future where every person has the opportunity to rebuild their life, no matter the storm.
To support Mary & Martha House or other Tampa Bay nonprofits working to rebuild after the hurricanes, please visit our Critical Needs List.
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