Hurricane helpers: Workers from 33 states, Canada rebuild Harlem Heights in Fort Myers

Tayeba Hussein, Fort Myers News-Press
·4 min read
2

Hundreds of volunteers from across North America arrived in Southwest Florida last week to help rebuild and repair the homes of residents in Harlem Heights.

Harlem Heights, a low-income neighborhood in Fort Myers, was impacted dramatically by Hurricane Ian last year. More than 30% of the Harlem Heights community lives below the federal poverty level, and many of the neighborhood's residents were displaced from their homes due to extensive damage from the storm.

The Heights Foundation, which was established 23 years ago with the mission of building self-sufficient families in Harlem Heights, has collaborated with the nonprofit Eight Days of Hope to bring aid to the community by providing free home repairs such as roofing, flooring and drywall restoration.

Looking back: NBC's Lester Holt returns to SWFL for Hurricane Ian series

Back after Ian: Owner of hurricane-closed Olde Fish House is back with new venture

Volunteers arrive to help

Through Eight Days of Hope, about 1,100 volunteers from 33 states and parts of Canada traveled to Fort Myers as part of the outreach group serving those impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Volunteers with Eight Days of Hope replace a roof on a home in Harlem Heights on Monday, May 22, 2023. Eight Days of Hope, a non-profit is back in Southwest Florida with hundreds of volunteers helping families affected by Hurricane Ian.
Volunteers with Eight Days of Hope replace a roof on a home in Harlem Heights on Monday, May 22, 2023. Eight Days of Hope, a non-profit is back in Southwest Florida with hundreds of volunteers helping families affected by Hurricane Ian.

"We've been working for eight months now to help rebuild the neighborhood. For this organization to come in at this point, it's critical, because we have families who still aren't in their homes," said Kathryn Kelly, the president, CEO and founder of the Heights Foundation.

Many of the displaced families have been living in tents in their backyards or family members' homes. Others continue existing alongside the bare concrete floors and water-damaged walls.

Volunteers from Eight Days of Hope arrived last week and began rebuilding efforts May 20 and served 135 homes over the course of eight days throughout Harlem Heights.

More than $70 million in repairs after hurricanes

Eight Days of Hope has led more than 50,000 volunteers in serving 9,000 families around the country following disasters including Hurricanes Michael, Katrina and Irene and has provided more than $70 million in repairs.

"We have skilled professionals and then some people like me that are less skilled but they want to give back," said Steve Tybor, president and CEO of Eight Days of Hope.

"Now maybe I can't wire a house but I can pull wire; maybe I don't know how to finish drywall, but I can carry the drywall; maybe I'm not the roofer that will operate the power gun but I can put shingles on the lift that goes up to the roof.

"We live in such a divided country that divided world," Tybor continued. "We argue about the stupidest things. But when we come together and we serve others, something happens not only to the family you're serving, but something happens to us too. We're seeing people feel love."

Every night after volunteers have finished the day's work, Eight Days of Hope invites the Harlem Heights residents to join the outreach group for dinner, and the response from volunteers and residents has been nothing but positive thus far.

"Every family I met, I cried, I was just overwhelmed with their genuine excitement for the possibility that we might come help them, that they were seeing hope because they feel hopeless," Tybor said.

David Bryhn, a volunteer with Eight Days of Hope helps replace a roof on a home in Harlem Heights on Monday, May 22, 2023. Eight Days of Hope, a non-profit is back in Southwest Florida with hundreds of volunteers helping families affected by Hurricane Ian.
David Bryhn, a volunteer with Eight Days of Hope helps replace a roof on a home in Harlem Heights on Monday, May 22, 2023. Eight Days of Hope, a non-profit is back in Southwest Florida with hundreds of volunteers helping families affected by Hurricane Ian.

Born and raised in Harlem Heights, Carla Gibson has been a resident of the neighborhood for 56 years. On the morning of May 22, volunteers worked together to repair Gibson's roof. Gibson's 92-year-old grandmother is also currently living with Gibson after being displaced by severe flooding in her home.

Grateful for Eight Days of Hope

Gibson expressed her gratitude to Eight Days of Hope and its volunteers for the aid they are providing to her and her grandmother.

"I'm just in awe of everything this organization is doing. I'm impressed with how well-organized they are and that they've come to help our neighborhood," Gibson said. "It's a wonderful thing."

Like Gibson, Harlem Heights resident Denita Goodman also grew up in her neighborhood and has lived in her current home for 27 years. Goodman and her family suffered significant damage to their homes Sept. 28 when Hurricane Ian hit and have been supporting one another ever since.

"It was horrible. As a family we had to pull together and do what we had to do and I've been blessed through Eight Days of Hope," Goodman said.

Although the damage done to Goodman's home is not as extensive as it was to some of her family members' homes, she said that she is grateful for everything Eight Days of Hope is doing for her community.

"Everybody that I have come in contact with, they have shown us nothing but love," Goodman said. "It's awesome. It's been awesome, from day one."

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Workers from 33 states, Canada help Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian