It’s already strange to say our time here is coming to an end but even stranger is knowing that we’ve wrapped up working on hurricane sites. Thursday and Saturday were spent in Sanibel doing everything we can to get their area even started on hurricane recovery. Thursday we concentrated on a garage, spending the day with a couple who also were just getting to work on it for the first time. We broke down cabinets, towed out trash, and our site lead even managed to help them get out three refrigerators which had gone unopened in the six weeks since the storm. Saturday we did an entire kitchen demo removing a sink, fridge, oven, dishwasher, cabinets, and about five feet of drywall. Evan had way too much fun with an ax and I was glad and shocked to find that I’ve somehow gathered enough construction knowledge to actually be able to give advice for how we could remove the sink.

Friday, between work days, we had the opportunity to spend a meeting with Sanibel’s Rotary Club getting the first look at their video appeal for aid as their island continues to lag several weeks behind in recovery due to limited access previously. Friday night we also went to Downtown Fort Myers with Susan for dinner at Ford’s Garage and a music walk that let us see a side of the city that almost felt normal. Similarly, we had the opportunity today to attend a Garden Festival at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Though it’s been unexpected to do anything much besides work, these events increase my appreciation for this area and its community. I’m excited that we’ll be back in February to get to take a look at progress a few more months in.