SW FL Service-Learning Trip: Day 5 Recap

June 7, 2023

On the fifth day of our service-learning trip, we again split into two groups: One group aided at Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity, and the second group helped All Hands and Hearts.

Habitat for Humanity

Today, the group went to a home building site with Habitat for Humanity. There, we reinforced the outer walls to the main frame of the home using hammers and nails. It was very tiring work because of the continuous pounding in the heat but very rewarding. It was a great experience getting to improve my hammering skills although some of our thumbs are still in pain.

At the end of the day, we had completed all the work we were tasked with and the Habitat for Humanity volunteers were very pleased. After we cleaned up the work site, my group drove to Ft. Myers Beach and saw all the damage Hurricane Ian caused. It was crazy to see how much wreckage there was and how many repairs still needed to take place.

One of my team leaders the other night said volunteers have stopped coming down to help the Ft. Myers area because they think the problem is gone since the damage is no longer featured in the mainstream news. Looking around at all the damage, we couldn’t help but think what it must be like to have your home, business, and entire livelihood stripped away from you in an instant, and for months not be able to stay in your own home, to realize… Help is not coming. That’s why we think what we’re doing here on this service-learning trip is so important. It not only gives those in need tangible help, but it also provides them with hope.

Another memorable part of the day was when Mr. Nece took us to get ice cream after a long, hot day’s work. This trip has made me realize how fortunate we are for being able to participate in this service group and help people in need.

All Hands and Hearts

Gladiolus Food Pantry

One group volunteering with All Hands and Hearts worked at Gladiolus Food Pantry and assisted in their one-day-a-week opening of the pantry. There were ~200 families who came in and shopped the aisles of the store. One of us worked at the exit of the pantry and loaded the groceries into a wagon and took them to the car to unload. We heard amazing stories from the people we assisted and learned a lot about what the help we do for the community. It was very rewarding to feel how we helped, and the touch of flowers at the exit were a small touch that we feel had a big impact. A local Trader Joe’s store donated them, and they added a warm touch at the end. I feel like it helped create a connection.

Muck ‘n Gut Sites

Two other groups today went to homes destroyed by the hurricane. The house had been negatively impacted by the storm surge of Hurricane lan, and it was flooded by five feet of water from the storm. The water damaged the house and had caused mold to build up in the wood.

Our task as volunteers was to remove the staples in the wood used by the manufacturers who built the home and scrape off the panels which soaked up water. Doing this enables the next round of volunteers to remove all the mold from the house and start the earlier stages of rebuilding. The impact our part in the process was important, as it started the process for rebuilding the home of someone impacted by the hurricane and who is currently displaced.

In service,

Dhariyan Allan, Gabby Diaz, Chancellor Haber, Madeline Kasper, and Taylor Webb