Conservative Patriot: FLORIDA

Dear Friend,

I noticed a common theme in the news stories this week – Hope. Those who survived Hurricane Michael are spreading hope to South Florida. Students at Florida State University are using the death of a friend to raise awareness and spread hope. And students in Lake City are exploring trade opportunities and increasing hope for our future. I encourage you to find ways to spread hope in your communities this week.

Check out the stories below to give you some inspiration -

Mexico Beach is getting ready to send a “Helping Hands” mural to two Southwest Florida communities as they begin to recover from Hurricane Ian. Mexico Beach Mayor, Al Cathey, will never forget when a small brown package from New York City arrived on his doorstep just days after Hurricane Michael. Inside was what Cathey called a “Helping Hands” mural with a note from an art class in New York City. Read more here.

Florida State University student Toluwani “Tom” Idowu passed away two years ago, at the age of 22, due to a sudden cardiac arrest while on a run down Chapel Drive in Tallahassee. A $200,000 student-led initiative called the TOM Project has been launched in his memory and includes the installation of more than 50 automated external defibrillators (AED) across the university's residence halls and academic spaces to prevent deaths related to cardiac events. Read more here.

A gentle breeze at the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds in Lake City provided a consistent audio backdrop to the occasional rev of an engine or the whir of heavy machinery. It was all part of the fourth annual Build My Future event, where roughly 200 high school students get a taste of different trade practices through demonstrations and hands-on instruction, including painting, electrical work, welding, bricklaying, and engine repair. Read more here.

As we continue taking measures to combat COVID-19, maintaining your mental health may become more difficult. I encourage you to visit this page if you are experiencing anxiousness or hopelessness.

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