Charles Garavaglia, a lifelong Miami resident and retired Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) employee, recently joined other FPL volunteers and retirees to distribute hurricane meal kits to seniors at the Allapattah Community Center. The event was organized in partnership with the Florida Council on Aging and United HomeCare.
Garavaglia, who worked for FPL for 38 years before retiring from information technology in October 2022, said, “At FPL, we always emphasized getting involved and giving back to the community. As a lifelong Miami resident, this was an opportunity to do just that.”
The distribution aimed to help seniors prepare for hurricane season by providing essential supplies directly to those who may face challenges such as fixed incomes or limited mobility. Each kit included three days’ worth of shelf-stable meals, water, and storm preparedness information.
Reflecting on his ongoing connection with FPL after retirement, Garavaglia stated, “I think it’s just a good thing to do. It’s the right thing to do to help. You can’t just dismiss all those relationships, and I’ve always been a big fan of FPL. It’s a way of staying connected with a company that I really enjoyed working for.”
Adrian Rosario, one of the senior recipients at the event, expressed appreciation for the support: “The help that FPL gives us is essential and really appreciated. I hope they continue to do it because it’s something that is desperately needed, especially for the seniors in our community.”
The effort is part of FPL’s larger hurricane preparedness initiative developed in partnership with organizations like the Florida Council on Aging. This program aims to reach vulnerable groups throughout Florida ahead of severe weather events.
Garavaglia also serves as a certified ombudsman with the state of Florida, advocating for elderly residents in assisted living facilities.
FPL has served customers in Miami for 100 years and continues its involvement through programs like these meal kit distributions as part of its broader storm readiness efforts. The company works with local partners across Florida to provide resources before hurricanes strike.
Residents seeking more information about preparing for storms can find guidance on FPL’s website.