TAMPA, Fla. — After losing everything to Hurricane Milton, a University Area family has been gifted a new car.

It was provided through a $250,000 Grow Financial donation to the University Area Community Development Corporation.


What You Need To Know

  • According to the University Area CDC, about 15% of the community was displaced following Hurricane Milton, and for some, the storm compounded existing transportation issues

  • A $250,000 hurricane recovery grant from Grow Financial funded a new car for University Area family who lost everything during Milton

  • Some of the grant also funded the purchase gift cards for ride shares and e-bikes to assist residents and students in getting to classes and other important appointments

“My God! Thank you. God bless America,” Sylvio Desir said after getting the key to his new vehicle.

Desir’s family has been living in a hotel since they lost their home and car to the storm.

“It affected the family a lot because I had to take the Uber, Taxi and sometimes the bus to go shopping and take the kids to school,” he said.

The family is part of about 15% of the community in University Area that was displaced following Hurricane Milton. according to the Community Development Corporation.

“We’re still working with families that are still in hotels. So we’re trying to figure out how do we get them into permanent housing,” said the nonprofit’s CEO, Dr. Sarah Combs.

Hurricane Milton compounded existing transportation issues, and some of Grow Financial’s donation was also used to purchase gift cards for ride shares and e-bikes to help residents, including ESOL and GED students, get to classes and other important appointments.

“A transportation solution is multilayered and multifunctional,” said Grow Financial Community Development AVP Chantel Negron.

Through various resources, the nonprofit plans to help families like the Desirs move forward in recovery from Milton.

“We can’t provide everyone new cars and this morning was beautiful that we were able to do that for one family,” said Dr. Combs. “But, we want to continue to talk about how do we meet that transportation gap. [Bus] Route One is a great opportunity for our residents. We also are looking at other ways to be innovative about meeting that transportation challenge.”