Hardee County FL – RV – Jan. 14-20, 2024

The word for this week at the Hardee County RV site is PROGRESS!  Our group, along with volunteers from the traditional site in Arcadia, and five volunteers from Christian Disaster Service, made a huge difference in the homes that have been assigned to us.

Volunteers worked at the Grape Street home – installed two tubs and a fan in the bathrooms; did electrical work; hung drywall; taped and mudded.  A second group of volunteers worked at the Tangerine St. home – insulating; hung drywall; installed a roof dryer vent and connected the water supply and sewer.  On Wednesday, a crew of five volunteers installed ceiling insulation at the Myrtle Street home.  Also on Wednesday, a reporter and camera team came to the job site and interviewed Fred and Mim.  Check out the Facebook post on Recover Hardee to see some of our volunteers in action!

On Thursday evening, Jamie Samuels, Long Term Recovery Chair and Director of Send Me Missions, joined us for a delicious Italian potluck.  Jamie shared her life journey and why she started Send Me Missions; we had a good evening of fellowship while it rained (AGAIN) outside!!

On Friday, 10 of the volunteers drove to the Goodson Strawberry Farm where we enjoyed strawberry shakes and strawberry shortcake – almost all of us brought fresh strawberries home with us.  We drove on to see the manatees who frequent the waters around the power plant at Apollo Beach.  To finish off our day, we ate at Der Dutchman in Sarasota.  It was an interesting and relaxing day!

We worshipped with the Northside Baptist Church in Wauchula on Sunday and then joined them for their annual chili cookoff.  The youth group had a cookie bakeoff and we all benefited from their efforts.

Many of us have commented that we did not bring enough cold-weather clothes; we are STILL waiting for warmer weather!

Ruth for the Hardee Co RV team