Bishop John Noonan | Diocese of Orland website

Diana Blanco, a Vincentian with experience in aiding Deltona residents, is witnessing heightened community needs following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The St. Vincent de Paul Society at Our Lady of the Lakes Parish collaborated with Catholic Charities of Central Florida to distribute essential supplies, including tarps, water, and ready-to-eat meals to over 500 families on October 14.

"We had a lot of flooding and power outages. Deltona had still not recovered from Hurricane Helene when Milton came," Blanco explained. "I'm getting so many calls. I can't keep up."

Certain areas in Deltona, such as Stone Island located on the St. John's River, are without water or electricity. Many affected individuals work as landscapers and day laborers who lost income due to the hurricanes.

The food distribution event at Our Lady of the Lakes attracted more than 200 cars, often representing two to four families each needing support. Most of these families consisted of six to eight members. Despite limited access to electricity or internet for news updates about the event, Blanco expressed satisfaction that they could assist so many people.

The parish continues distributing ready-to-eat meals and water while Vincentians personally delivered supplies on October 15 to those lacking transportation options. The Knights of Columbus Council 6584 provided crucial assistance during these efforts.

"We're not just talk. We're showing the face of Christ to our community," Blanco stated. "If I can be that and see a little piece of Christ inside everyone, that is why I am here. I am here to serve."

The pantry at Our Lady of Lakes serves residents from Deltona, Lake Helen, Osteen, and Enterprise communities. Appointments can be made by calling 386-320-3453.