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Volunteers with Rebuilding Together Greater Florida on Wednesday | Kayla Borg, LkldNow
1-minute read
Wednesday morning, inside United Way of Central Florida’s Lakeland building, on U.S. 98, volunteers from Westlake Epoxy and United Way were passing flashlights, batteries, glow sticks and first aid kits down a line, readying emergency supplies for hurricane season, which was already upon us.
Now it was time to prepare.
Rebuilding Together Greater Florida was launching its Disaster Readiness and Recovery Program in Polk County, to help with roof repairs, distribute storm kits and get out their message: preparation is power.
Volunteers with Rebuilding Together Greater Florida on Wednesday | Kayla Borg, LkldNow
The volunteers passed 150 five-gallon buckets from person to person as they packed the supplies. Outside, the buckets were lidded and hammered shut before being placed on the Rebuilding Together Greater Florida truck, ready for distribution as the oceans heat up.
‘We’re not going to stop’ Community leaders and homeowners shared storm stories. Lakeland City Commissioner Guy LaLonde voiced support for Rebuilding Together’s mission to safeguard vulnerable homes. “We serve this entire city, every neighborhood, every family, and every story,” he said.
Diane Flood of Lakeland said she felt blessed after Rebuilding Together repaired her hurricane-damaged roof.
Catherine and Adam Bunnell, whose home flooded during a hurricane despite not being in a flood zone, are now getting floors repaired with help from Rebuilding Together.
As the kits stacked up and were loaded onto the truck, it felt like a promise.
“We’re not going to stop until we’ve ensured and confirmed every area receives the attention it deserves and is needed,” LaLonde said.
Insight Polk examines community conditions and solutions in six target areas from UCIndicators.org: economic & employment opportunity, education, housing, food security, transportation & infrastructure, and quality of life.
LkldNow’s Insight Polk independent reporting is made possible by the United Community Indicators Project with funding by GiveWell Community Foundation & United Way of Central Florida. All editorial decisions are made by LkldNow.
Kayla Borg is a Lakeland native and graduate of Western Carolina University, where she earned her degree in English and film production. She began her media career in Atlanta at CNN, quickly rising from production assistant editor to technical director/editor, leading live broadcasts alongside field reporters. Since then, she’s worked in education, instructional design and independent filmmaking.
