Last Updated on October 18, 2018 by Angela Colonna
This week, the Central Florida-based UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Education Center offered a helping hand to support the Hurricane Michael relief efforts in the Florida Panhandle.
![](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/mrec/files/2018/10/12_edited-942x1024.jpg)
Faculty and staff of MREC donated a carload of items ranging from household products of paper towels and toilet paper to food items such as canned goods, non-perishables, like peanut butter and granola bars, and bottled water. Personal items and day-to-day items like toiletries and sanitary wipes were collected in addition to even some dog food.
MREC is a horticulture research and education center located in Apopka, Florida, and works closely with the industry group Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association. FNGLA has chapters in North, Central and South Florida and represents the environmental horticulture industry.
“It was critical that MREC responded to the FNGLA’s call for donations to help those in need devastated by Hurricane Michael,” said Roger Kjelgren, PhD., center director of MREC. “With so any residents impacted, we knew a variety of items would be needed, especially for those who lost their homes or all their personal belongings.”
![](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/mrec/files/2018/10/20181016_093732_edited-1024x576.jpg)
Donated items were dropped off at local agricultural company Agristarts to support FNGLA’s Action Chapter Hurricane Michael relief efforts.
“Our donations will help 90 families with their recovery efforts and we know each item will be put to use,” said Liz Felter, PhD, a MREC faculty member, as she brought the donations to the drop off site.
![](https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/mrec/files/2018/10/20181016_094053_edited-1024x591.jpg)
Both MREC and FNGLA hope our neighbors in northeast Florida know even in Central Florida we are here to support them and will continue to aid in the region’s recovery.
For ways to donate, additional relief effort resources or to see a critical needs item list, follow this link.
To see more ways the University of Florida faculty, staff and students are helping with Hurricane Michael relief efforts, visit this site.