Group receives updates from GPIWA, Matlacha Hookers, Ruane’s office and Rebuild Together

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

When the Greater Pine Island Alliance met June 20 at the Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, members discussed a number of new initiatives to help rebuild the island still recovering from Hurricane Ian

GPIA co-chair Aaron Barreda addressed the temporary containers project the group has undertaken, saying partner group Pathfinder Mission has decided the time has come to go back to Texas The project, he said, has become a collaboration with other groups in addition to Pathfinder Mission, such as the American Legion and

Project Hope

“To this date, we have been able to put out over 51 temporary storage containers on the island That’s one of our big initiatives that’s been coming at a cost of about $750 a piece,” Barreda said

Pathfinder Mission is handing over plans for the temporary containers to the GPIA, so that it may continue, Barreda said There are eight containers, which have already been funded, with a number of containers in need of funding

Barreda and co-chair Jay Sanderson attended a regional meeting of Lions Club International where they got a