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Fort Myers pilots bring donations to the Bahamas

Posted at 9:50 PM, Nov 14, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-15 08:51:28-05

FORT MYERS, Fla. — It's not hard to get Ted Ehrlich or Larry Warden into the cockpit of a plane.

"I got out of the army and I had always wanted to fly," said Ehrlich.

"I was in air cadets as a young lad and I always wanted to be a young military pilot in Canada," said Warden.

And it was with that same enthusiasm that the pair of Southwest Florida pilots packed up two weeks ago, with the Bahamas in mind.

"They've lost everything. They've lost their homes. They've lost their possessions," said Warden.

Their mission?

Hurricane Dorian relief.

"People need food and water and shelter right now," said Warden.

The most recent trip is one of dozens that their Fort Myers based flight group, the Sundowners Flying Club, has organized.

The food, clothes and supplies they donated went to dozens of kids, who are finally getting back to school after the storm.

"It was amazing because I am former educator and teacher," said Warden.

"They're just wonderful kids raised by wonderful families," said Ehrlich.

Some schools may be back in session, but a quick tour of Treasure Cay shows you that there is still much more to be done.

"It's emotionally heartbreaking, it really is," said Ehrlich.

But the pair says their flying club won't stop visiting, until that need is met.

"It was very meaningful," said Warden.

To date, the club has made 31 trips to the Bahamas.

To learn more about how you can donate any money or items for future Bahamas flights, click here.