SOUTHWEST FLORIDA - More than 400 people are staying at a Red Cross shelter Wednesday night. Flood water forced them to leave their homes. While it's hard to be without their belongings, some are making the best of the situation they're in.

Erica Regalado's family was forced out of their home at the Salvidar Camp on Saturday.

The evacuation was so quick, she said there was no time to leave with the necessities, like a change of clothes.

She said told us through a translator, "It's a desperate feeling because her kids don't have any of their toys they left behind. She couldn't pull out any clothes either."

Her three year old daughter Nicole cannot grasp the desperation her mother feels.

She only knows that she misses her toys, especially her Tweety bird bed.

"She wants to go home," said the translator as Nicole shyly hid her face in her mother's shoulder.

Nicole and her mom may have left with nothing, but now thanks to donations from the community they're slowly replacing what they have lost.

People continued to drop off donations at the St. Leo Catholic Church on Bonita's Beaumont Road Wednesday afternoon.

The church has transformed into a donation center, where by the bus load, evacuees are able to pick up clothing, shoes and diapers.

"Thanks to everybody that's helping us...for the donations and charity. We would not have shelter or food or clothes," said Regalado.

Regalado's story is just one of many we're hearing from Bonita flood evacuees.

You could consider Roberto Vilalpando a victim. He's one of more than 430 flood evacuees now calling a Red Cross shelter home.

But, you won't hear him complain. Instead, you'll hear him acting as the voice of his neighbors, translating so they understand and get the donations they need.

There isn't much to do, so Roberto decided to volunteer his time at St. Leo's and the shelter.

He said, "By helping them, I'm helping my family."

His brother Jose Villalpando worries though.

"We went by the camp, they wouldn't let us go through because it's more flooded and spreading," Jose told us.

Vilipando's 19 month old daughter played with dozens of other evacuee children while her parents waited at St Leo's to pick up their donations.

None of children seemed to realize why the were there.

"They don't worry, they don't know what's going on. They probably think they're on vacation or something," said Jose as he watched his daughter play with a set of Lincoln Logs.

The Red Cross did not have an exact number of children impacted by the flood, but St. Leo's tells WINK News there are well more than one hundred children affected.

While the evacuees are grateful for the help from the Southwest Florida community, they can't help but to wonder what they'll return home to.

"Not knowing what's gonig on over there makes me worried. It sometimes makes me wonder what's going on and what they're going to tell us," said Jose.

There are two ways to make sure your financial donation goes to help victims in Bonita Springs:

1. Write a check to: Lee County Red Cross and designate it to “Bonita Flood Victims”

OR

2. Give money to the St. Leo's Emergency Flood Fund at any Bank of America.

St. Leo's Emergency Flood Fund
28290 Beaumont Rd.
Bonita Springs, FL 34134