It’s been over a year since hurricane Harvey hit our coastal area. Unfortunately, some families are still unable to move into their homes.
Organizations like All Hands and Hearts and the National Civilian Community Corps (AmeriCorps NCCC) are working together, rebuilding people’s homes.
“In total, we’ve had 700 AmeriCorps members serve in Texas,” says AmeriCorps NCCC team leader Elena Sachs.
One of those homeowners is Vira Valderas.
“It’s been rough, it’s been life-changing,” says homeowner Vira Valderas.
Valderas and her husband have moved four times since Harvey, recently living in a FEMA trailer.
Thanks to the efforts of both organizations, she will be moving into her remodeled home this weekend.
“It’s beautiful, it doesn’t look anything like before,” says Valderas.
All Hands and Hearts project manager Ashley Saulcy says volunteers have completed 14 homes this year. Five are in the process of being completed, but there are many others in need.
“This is an area that’s already low income, it’s already kind of neglected to some extent, because of that, the effect of the hurricane was so much higher,” says project manager Ashley Saulcy.
Saulcy says All Hands and Hearts focuses on homes with interior damage. Once a home is approved, volunteers go and asses what needs to be done.
Depending on if it’s just redoing the floors or the entire interior, it takes volunteers two to three months to complete the work.
They do not charge homeowners a single penny.
Saulcy says their organization is committed to Aransas County until August 2020. She says they have funding, but they need volunteers.
She also encourages homeowners to be persistent when requesting help and to be patient.
For more information on assistance or to volunteer with All Hands and Hearts follow this link.
If you are interested in volunteering with AmeriCorps, visit their website.
