Locals Thank Disaster Relief Volunteers

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The local Long-Term Disaster Recovery Group, United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties, and city officials from Vidalia and Lyons recently came together to thank the numerous volunteers who worked to repair homes damaged by Hurricane Helene in the area.

The Long-Term Group was formed after the United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties received a grant through the American Red Cross for storm recovery. After receiving the grant, United Way officials, leaders from the cities of Vidalia and Lyons, and administrators from Gardens of Hope Recovery Community Organization (RCO) met to determine the logistics of forming a long-term recovery group, as they agreed to combine the grant money with leftover Wheeler Strong, Montgomery Strong, and Toombs Strong funding.

After the meeting, it was determined that Gardens of Hope RCO Executive Director Jimbo Partin, Certified Peer Specialist Parent Amy Cruz, and Office Manager Ashley Garner would lead the group, as they worked to repair damaged homes. To lead the Group, Cruz serves as the Case Manager, Partin serves as the Construction Manager, and Garner serves as the Data Coordinator; all funds are distributed by United Way of Toombs, Montgomery, and Wheeler Counties Executive Director Patricia Dixon.

“Amy and I have been going out in the community to see these homes. She receives a list of homes, and goes and assesses the property. I tag along and get a material list of what is needed to fix the home and get it to Handy Andy, who gets the materials together for us. Handy Andy has been a huge partner in all of this,” Partin emphasized.

The group began first repairing homes left on the Toombs Strong list, which collected information from homeowners applying to have assistance in repairing their properties. “A lot of these families have been waiting for a year,” Cruz said. “We’ve finished those homes and have now been taking referrals. It has been a huge, huge blessing to be able to help these people.”

Partin added, “We have seen homes that people still had tarps on their roofs and leaks. They were living in not the best conditions because they could not afford to move or live anywhere else.”

The pair shared that one aspect of the effort that had been rewarding was the ability of the group to complete work on mobile homes, which were not eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) aid. According to Partin, each project averages around $3,500, depending on the extent of the damage. Workers have even completed projects as complex as full roof replacement and window emplacements. “They’re even working today to lift one side of a home because a tree fell on it and has tilted it,” Partin shared. “It’s not just basic work – it’s in depth stuff.”

In total, the Mennonite Disaster Relief and United Methodist Committee on Relief repaired 121 homes – 109 of which were major projects – in the community before saying “goodbye” to the area last week. These volunteers were honored during a ceremony on Friday, March 27, where officials took time to thank them and Handy Andy Home Warehouse for their hard work throughout the relief period.