The Gathering Church will host a free pasta dinner Wednesday, offering a chance for neighbors to reflect on how far they’ve come since hurricanes Helene and Milton.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Nearly two years after hurricanes Helene and Milton flooded the first floor of a Shore Acres church, the community is taking time to reflect.
The Gathering Church is hosting a free pasta dinner Wednesday night from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., offering food, comfort and a chance for neighbors to connect as they reflect on how far they’ve come and how much work is still left to do.
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Church leaders say nearly two years ago, the church’s parking lot was flooded as water rushed into the building. Now, nearly two years later, they expect that parking lot to be full again, this time with cars for a community pasta dinner.
And if there’s a recipe for resilience, The Gathering Church in Shore Acres, St. Petersburg, has got it. But for church leaders, the gathering is about more than food.
“There’s still some people that are not in their homes, some that just abandoned their homes,” said Janice Roth, the church’s business administrator.
After the flood, Roth said they still found a way to serve the community.
“We had a food ministry for 10 weeks, and we had people come every week. Week one, they were scared. They were crying. They didn’t know what to do. We’ve had rebuild fairs here,” Roth said.
And, the ministry continues to serve the community today.
“If you’re hurting, come on. Let us help you heal. Let us give you a full belly and some to take home,” Roth said.
Community and comfort are coming together as neighbors are reminded of what they lost.
“People are in shock that it’s two years later,” Roth said.
Roth said recovery hasn’t been a piece of cake.
“We’re still waiting because it is FEMA and Florida Public Assistance. Super grateful, but it requires a lot of patience,” she said.
But hope still finds a way to shine through.
“We’re getting through. God willing, we’re going to get through,” Roth said.