Continuing the Mission in Lahaina: Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) Hawai’i, in partnership with Stable Road Foundation and Maui Brewing Co, is proud to continue our commitment to long-term housing solutions after the 2023 Lahaina wildfire.
We’ve already placed 7 ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) on family properties in the burn zone, helping survivors return to their land while they rebuild. Now, we’re honored to support the Lahaina Jodo Mission, a spiritual and cultural cornerstone since 1912, by placing two ADUs on-site.
The devastating fire destroyed the temple, pagoda, bell tower, and more — but the bronze Amida Buddha still remains, a symbol of hope and resilience.
These two 2-bedroom Castleblock units will serve as the Minister’s residence and office, allowing Rev. Gensho Hara and his wife, who have lovingly cared for the mission for over 60 years, to remain present as this sacred site rebuilds.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible donor partners @stableroadfoundation and @mauibrewingco for making this project possible.
In honoring the past, we help lay the foundation for the future. @globalempowermentmissionhawaii #Maui #lahaina #strong
GEM is proud to serve as the official disaster relief partner for Miami-Dade County. Yesterday, we hosted our Annual Hurricane Preparedness Press Conference at GEM HQ—bringing together leaders and partners from across the U.S. and the entire Caribbean region.
This video captures powerful and key insights from the event.
Thanks to these long-standing partnerships, GEM is uniquely positioned and ready to respond immediately the moment a hurricane strikes—anywhere it hits.
Take a minute to watch and see how prepared and prepositioned we are for the 2025 hurricane season.
To learn more and how you can help support these efforts, please visit the link in our bio section. #GEM #BStrong #HurricanePreparedness #disasterrelief
Yesterday, as the 2025 hurricane season approaches, Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) and @bethennyfrankel’s #BStrong joined forces with @miamidadecounty, @sflcaribbeanstrong, @flewthecoop_ , and an incredible coalition of regional and international partners to officially launch a Coordinated Plan of Action—strengthening disaster preparedness and first-response efforts across the U.S. and Caribbean.
At GEM’s Hurricane Preparedness Press Conference, GEM leadership and Emergency Response Directors were joined by Miami-Dade County Mayor @mayordlc Daniella Levine Cava, @marlonhill of Caribbean Strong, Hon. R. Oliver Mair of Jamaica, and the Caribbean Consular Corps Miami (CCC) representing Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and Trinidad & Tobago—united under the shared motto: “Strength in Unity.”
“GEM has proven itself to be incredibly nimble. With support from corporate sponsors, GEM provides emergency kits almost immediately after a storm, sets up distribution hubs in affected areas, and can even fly in aid via helicopter,” said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
New this year: GEM’s animal welfare arm Flew The Coop® is expanding its mission to protect pets during disasters—launching a new national partnership with FidoAlert, the leading free lost pet alert network. 🐾 Families can now sign up for FREE lifesaving pet resources before hurricane season at www.fidoalert.com/flewthecoop
With 373 missions completed across 73 countries and all 50 U.S. states, delivering over $627 million in aid and supplies to date, GEM continues to drive fast, efficient, and community-centered disaster response.
Learn more and how you can support hurricane preparedness, please visit the link in our bio or globalempowermentmission.org
#StrengthInUnity #HurricanePreparedness #Community #DisasterRelief #PetPreparedness #GEM #BStrong #FlewTheCoop #CaribbeanStrong @nbc6 @lauranbc6
Today marks the official start of the 2025 hurricane season.
This weekend, GEM’s U.S. Director of Field Missions, Kimberley Bentley, was on the ground at key preparedness events in both Doral and Fort Lauderdale—helping strengthen connections, share critical knowledge, and build resilience across our region.
In Doral, Kimberley attended the Doral Disaster Fair, where she engaged with city officials, local organizations, and businesses committed to helping residents prepare for, survive, and recover from hurricane emergencies. Officials expressed deep appreciation for GEM’s ongoing efforts and are looking forward to tomorrow’s GEM Hurricane Preparedness Press Conference.
She also joined the “Eye of the Storm” event in Fort Lauderdale—a dynamic gathering focused on hurricane science, mitigation, and preparedness. Here, Kimberley collaborated with partners from Miami-Dade Department of Emergency Management and Broward County Emergency Management, Florida Power & Light (FPL), and other regional stakeholders to advance preparedness conversations ahead of what is forecast to be an active season. Together, we are stronger and ready to serve. @kayebentley @miamidadeem @browardemd @insidefpl #GEM #HurricanePreparedness #hurricane #season
A day of hope. A day of healing. A day of heart. 💙
Today, in partnership with San Diego VOAD, and our partners at @frontlineimpact - GEM USA West proudly hosted a large scale Recovery Pop-Up for families impacted by the devastating 2024 floods.
Back in January, relentless floodwaters surged through Southeast San Diego—an unforgiving river that swallowed homes, memories, and the very foundation thousands once stood on. Over six feet of water consumed entire neighborhoods, leaving heartbreak in its wake.
Nearly a year and a half later, the need remains deep, and the wounds are still mending. But today—something powerful happened.
We came together—partners, community members, and volunteers—not only to deliver critical recovery resources through our LTRGs and DCMs, but to restore hope and bring moments of joy to those who have lost so much.
✨ There was laughter and games.
🎶 Live music that lifted the spirit.
🍽️ Delicious food that united us.
💇🏽♂️ Free haircuts that helped families feel whole again.
But most importantly, today gave our flood survivors something truly rare: a moment of normalcy. A chance to smile, to reconnect, and to know they are seen, heard, and cared for.
This is what true recovery looks like. It’s about more than rebuilding homes. It’s about rebuilding hearts. Restoring dignity. And reminding every family—you are not alone.
Together, we rise. 💛
#FrontlineImpact #GEMMissions #SanDiegoVOAD #FloodRecovery #CommunityStrong #HopeInAction #TogetherWeHeal #gemusawest #GEM #SanDiego #California
On May 16, a catastrophic tornado outbreak devastated parts of the U.S., with 50+ tornadoes across multiple states—claiming 28 lives and damaging 6,500+ structures. An EF-4 tornado over a mile wide leveled London, KY.
GEM BStrong teams immediately deployed with BStrong Cash Cards, critical aid, and family necessity kits for individuals and families in the hardest-hit areas. Relief efforts are ongoing—help us continue this mission at GlobalEmpowermentMission.org. Or visit the link in bio section above to learn more and how you can help. #GEM #BStrong #DisasterRelief #TornadoResponse #Kentucky #Missouri
Remembering our brave heroes on this Memorial Day. #memorialday #2025 #GEM
GEM BStrong teams remain on the ground in Missouri, delivering Family Necessity Kits and #BStrong Cash Cards to residents affected by the devastating tornado that tore through the St. Louis metro area.
With peak winds reaching 152 mph and a path nearly a mile wide, the tornado tracked over 23 miles, crossing into Illinois and leaving a trail of destruction. The storm claimed five lives, injured 38 people, and damaged over 5,000 structures—causing an estimated $1.6 billion in property loss.
Our efforts continue throughout the hardest-hit neighborhoods. And on Wednesday, May 28, GEM BStrong will also be providing resources at the Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) for storm-impacted residents in Scott County.
Location:
Old Bethel Baptist Church
180 County Road 449
Sikeston, MO 63801
Date/Time:
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Your support makes this possible. To learn more about our ongoing response and how you can help, visit the link in our bio. @bethennyfrankel @flewthecoop_ @kayebentley #StLouis #Missouri #TornadoRelief #DisasterResponse #GEM #BStrong
GEM BStrong teams are on the ground in Kentucky, delivering life-saving supplies to families devastated by the recent deadly tornadoes. With an additional truckload of aid and response teams now en route to St. Louis, Missouri, our mission continues to expand as the full scale of destruction comes into focus—countless homes lost and lives tragically cut short.
Thanks to your ongoing support, GEM Bstrong remains prepositioned and ready to respond immediately with our essential Family Necessity Kits—bringing hope and relief when it’s needed most.
In Kentucky, we’ve partnered with Faith Assembly of God Church to establish a disaster relief distribution center:
Faith Assembly of God Church
390 Faith Assembly Church Rd.
London, KY 40741
Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. through Sunday, May 25th
Stay tuned—tomorrow we’ll share updates from our St. Louis deployment and aid distributions.
Click the link in our bio to learn more or support our ongoing mission. #GEM #Bstrong @bethennyfrankel #tornadoes #disaster #relief #kentucky #stlouis #missouri @flewthecoop_
Global Empowerment Mission (GEM USA West) has been supporting Los Angeles County residents this week from the MARC distribution site in Altadena, California. We have been able to support over 400 households daily with food, water, children’s supplies, air purifiers, cleaning supplies, and other important items. Thanks to our generous partners, such as @goyafoods, @bombas, #Ecolab and more, we have been able to support over 7,400 LA residents this week who were affected by January’s wildfires. GEM continues aid distribution support throughout Los Angeles County, and has positioned itself to be able to do so for the long-term. To learn more and how you can help, please visit the link in our bio section above. #lafires #la #altadena #wildfires
A deeper look at our impact in #lahaina Hawaii with our Ohana program. Endless gratitude to our partners @stableroadfoundation & @mauibrewingco. #bstrong #mauifires #hope #hawaii
🌺 **A New Beginning for Lahaina Families** 🌺
This week we got to see some beautiful impact of our combined efforts for Maui fire survivors. GEM in partnership with @stableroadfoundation & @mauibrewingco came together to deliver hope and housing — donating 7 fully furnished ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) to families who lost everything in the Lahaina wildfires.
🙏 A special mahalo to Castleblock for donating one of the units and to Treecovery for providing native Hawaiian trees and beautiful landscaping that now surrounds these homes.
🏠 Each unit was placed directly on the family’s own property — giving them a safe, stable, and fully livable space to call home while they begin the long process of rebuilding. Helping families return to their land is not just healing — it’s a long-term, cost-effective housing solution that supports true recovery.
Together, we are rebuilding lives — one family, one home at a time.
#LahainaStrong #MauiWildfires #RebuildMaui
@globalempowermentmission @treecoverylahaina @countyofmaui @jefferies #bstrong
Today, our GEM Asia team @globalempowermentmissionasia reached Innwa (Ava)—a once-majestic royal capital just outside Mandalay—where the echoes of history now stand alongside the heartbreak of the devastation caused by the recent earthquake.
The earthquake left 75% of Innwa’s treasured landmarks in ruins. Yet even amid the rubble, the spirit of this resilient community endures.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors and volunteers, GEM Asia distributed humanitarian aid to hundreds — offering not just vital nourishment, but a powerful reminder: You are not forgotten. You are not alone. To learn more and how you can help, please visit: https://www.globalempowermentmission.org/mission/myanmar-thailand-earthquake/
#GEM #bstrong #DisasterRelief #Myanmar #earthquake #rescilience #humanitarian #crisis #Asia
Yesterday was a powerful reminder of what community means. At the Cohasset Community’s Annual Chili Cook-off, our GEM USA West team stood alongside families still healing from the Park Fire — offering support, compassion, and a promise that they are not forgotten. We are deeply grateful to our partners — @teamrubicon, #ButteCountyDevelopmentServices, #StVincentdePaul, #TzuChi, and #NVCSSDisasterServices — for joining us in bringing hope to those who need it most. Together, we are stronger. Together, we rise. To learn more and how you can help, please visit: https://www.globalempowermentmission.org #GEM #bstrong #California #ParkFire #Wildfires #CommunityEngagement #humanitarianrelief #Empowerment
From Ashes, We Rise — Together
On January 8, 2025, wildfire tore through Southern California, leaving behind scorched earth, shattered homes, and families clinging to hope with nothing left but the clothes on their backs. But today, something extraordinary has taken root.
Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), in partnership with Team Rubicon @teamrubicon, CalOES @cal_oes, and Los Angeles County @countyofla has opened a 340,000 sq. ft. recovery warehouse — a beacon of hope built for the brave families who lost everything, and a powerful symbol that healing is possible.
This is more than just a building.
It’s where donations become warm beds for children who’ve been sleeping on floors. Where volunteers pack not just boxes, but compassion and dignity. Where survivors hear, maybe for the first time, “You’re not alone. We’re here for you.”
And now, we’re calling on you to join us — because recovery takes a village, and every village needs its heartbeat.
Here’s what we need to keep that heartbeat strong:
MUSCLE – Volunteers and hands willing to help and serve.
FUNDING – To keep trucks moving, shelves stocked, and doors open.
MATERIAL – The goods that help families feel like a family again.
👉 Every dollar, every item, every effort matters.
There are still mothers who haven’t been able to cook a meal for their children. Father’s sleeping in cars, wondering what comes next. Children dreaming of a bed they can call their own again. Let’s be the answer to their prayers. Let’s be their sign of hope.
If you’re an NGO needing support: [email protected]
If you’re a donor, this is your moment to make real, lasting impact.
Recovery isn’t just a moment. It’s a movement. And it starts with you.
Join us.
Help California heal.
Help empower families to rise up.
Help hope return home. To learn more and how you can help, please visit the link in our bio section above.
#HelpCaliforniaHeal #GEMmissions #TeamRubicon #WildfireRecovery #WarehouseOfHope #Community #Collaboration #UnitedInRecovery #GEM #bstrong #RebuildHope #GiveBack #NonprofitPower #CalOES #LACounty #AltadenaStrong #LAstrong #TogetherWeRise #gemusawest
GEM Update: Earthquake Response in Myanmar
On March 28, a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Mandalay, Myanmar—leaving widespread destruction in its wake. In the weeks since, Global Empowerment Mission’s Europe and Asia teams have been on the ground, delivering life-saving aid to monasteries, nunneries, remote villages, and displacement camps.
This past week, our teams reached several hard-hit and previously inaccessible areas in the Tadau District, including Shan Zay, Mont Ti Suu, Kine Barr, and Kwan The Dann, as well as communities in and around the town of Myitnge. The need was immense—and the gratitude we witnessed was deeply moving. Residents were overwhelmed with emotion and blessings, grateful that help had finally reached them.
One of the most critical challenges remains the collapse of the Tadau bridge—a vital link that allowed local workers, many of whom are carpenters and masons, to reach Mandalay for employment. Without it, families are now cut off from their only source of income.
Another growing crisis is the lack of clean drinking water. Many wells collapsed during the earthquake, leaving communities without safe water. While we continue to distribute clean water, food, and hygiene products, the demand far exceeds supply.
Next, our teams are preparing to reach the historic city of Innwa (Ava), just outside Mandalay, to deliver additional food, including large bags of rice and beans, to hundreds of families in need. But the work is far from over.
The people of Myanmar urgently need sustainable water purification systems and continued relief. With your support, we can bring lasting solutions and help rebuild lives. Please consider donating today, visit the link in our bio section above to learn more.
#GEMmissions #MyanmarEarthquake #DisasterRelief #HumanitarianAid #GlobalEmpowermentMission #asia #europe #AsiaRelief #WaterIsLife #StandWithMyanmar #Mandalay #Tadau #EmergencyRelief #hopeinaction #empowerment #humanitariancrisis
Last week @royalcaribbean Group’s Port Services team participated in a service project helping assemble over 1,900 hygiene kits to support GEM’s hurricane preparedness efforts. Working together helps us ensure communities get the help they need when they need it the most. #community #hurricanepreparedness #royalcaribbean #GEM
WNC Program Update:
To date, GEM Bstrong, in partnership with The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation, have awarded 80 grants totaling over $500,000 to small businesses and artisans impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
Today, we’re excited to announce that—thanks to the continued generosity of the The David & Nicole Tepper Foundation—we are expanding the grant fund and opening another new round of applications for small businesses and artisans whose livelihoods were disrupted by the catastrophic flooding in the region. Thanks to DNTF, our second round will increase the program by 150% for 2025.
In addition to the small business and artisan grants, we are also launching our Rental Assistance Program (RAP) in Western North Carolina modeled after our long term responses for the Surfside collapse and the Maui and SoCal fires. Our RAP program will provide eligible individuals and families with three months of rental assistance, including first month, last month, and security deposit for a lease they choose based on our qualifications and guidelines.
We are proud to stand with the resilient communities of WNC as they continue to rebuild. @panthers @charlottefc @bofastadium @bethennyfrankel #thedavidandnicoletepperfoundation
We did something truly beautiful—together. This weekend’s GEM Recovery Pop-Up at the Dream Center was nothing short of magical. Thanks to your heart, time, and energy, we welcomed 1,344 families and served a total of 4,703 individuals—bringing hope, healing, and joy to a community in need.
There was laughter, dancing, deep connection, and a whole lot of love. From surprise hugs to essential resources, we witnessed the true power of community in action.
And to top it off? An honorary LAPD flyover saluting our efforts, along with recognition from Supervisor Hilda Solis, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Former LA Mayor and Speaker of the California State Assembly, Antonio Villaraigosa @antonioforcalifornia LAPD, LA County Sheriffs, and so many more.
To each of you who showed up—you are heroes. The heat didn’t stop us. The crowds didn’t stop us. And the joy? It was unstoppable.
Thank you for making this possible. This wasn’t just an event—it was a movement.
With all our hearts,
The GEM Team
#CalOES #FEMA #TopangaReach #DreamCenter #Loveland #CORE #AltaMed #AcupunctureWithoutBorders #LACounty #Metro #OperationHope #GreaterGoodCharities #PowWowOnParade #InternationalInstituteOfLosAngeles #LASouthernCaliforniaWildfires #ToolBank #UMCOR #iHeartRadio #LAWorks #JustServe #GEMCommunity #RecoveryWithHeart #WeShowUp
Myanmar Earthquake update….
GEM teams reporting live on @bbcnews from #Mandalay, #Myanmar. Special Missions Lead, Bob walks you through the latest situations on the ground and how we’re supporting by local empowering methods. Special thanks to @aerialrecoverygroup’s Heal the Hero’s program.
