Bringing Relief To Hurricane Victims, Ohio Company Driving To Florida

BEACHWOOD, OH — Nate Horowitz and his company Q Audio Visual, an AV-focused business, moved to Ohio in 2015. The business was started in 2006 and originally based in the Fort Lauderdale area. With Hurricane Irma pummeling the area, destroying homes, leaving thousands without power and basic necessities, Horowitz felt a need to do something for the area that played home for his business for nine years.

So he decided to load up one of his trucks with supplies, drive down to his business' birthplace and set up shop at a local fire station, personally handing items to people in need.

"That area is near and dear to us as a company," Horowitz told Patch. (To stay up to date on local stories, subscribe to the Patch Beachwood newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

After getting no guidance or help from the Red Cross and Costco, Horowitz decided he and his company should cut out the middleman and hand out the items directly to the people in need. His group will collect donations through Thursday night, and they're still in need of many items.

"I wish we were a little further along. We have an 18-foot truck that we have in our inventory. We’re going to try and fill that," he said. Failing that, they'll load up one of the company's vans and drive that to Florida.

Horowitz said he's not looking for anymore donations of water. He has water "coming out of [his] ears." Someone also dropped off tons of pet food. Instead, he needs toiletries, battery powered fans, A/C units that folks want to get rid of...and more toiletries. The business is located at 12 Alpha Park, Highland Heights. Horowitz said someone should be at that location from sun up until about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.

"If people can’t figure out a way to get to the store, they can use the link on our Facebook to make a financial contribution. We’re going to turn around and use that money to buy items for the people in Florida," he said.

The Facebook page for his mission to Fort Lauderdale can be found by clicking here.

Lead images of Florida Keys by Matt McClain/The Washington Post via AP, Pool