Members of 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polytechnic Universityβs Rotaract Club recently volunteered to help residents of a senior community in Lakeland, 91ΒιΆΉΣ³», recover from damage after Hurricane Milton.
When Hurricanes Helene and Milton battered Central 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» and beyond within just two weeks this fall, the Rotaract Club at 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»sprang into action.
With a motto of βService above self,β the student leadership and community service organization quickly voted to contribute $500 toward hurricane relief efforts. And when they heard that the residents of a nearby senior community were unable to clean up their storm-damaged homes on their own, they stepped up to lend a hand.
βIt was all mobile homes, and it definitely had been flooded,β said Bryon Catlin, the clubβs president and a senior majoring in computer engineering. βA lot of the areas under houses were covered in a cardboard-like material and we had to cut that out to make sure it didnβt mold up.β
The studentsβ volunteer work at the Light and Life Park community in Lakeland, 91ΒιΆΉΣ³», also included cutting out insulation, removing damaged furniture, and ensuring that residents were able to see everything that had been flooded.
βIn one house we had to gut the entire flooring, and it was awful for the lady who lived there to see and hear about it, but I knew it saved her time and effort,β Catlin said. βMost of the people there donβt have the ability physically and financially to do that.β
The same day as the hurricane assistance, the club had already planned an adopt-a-road clean-up effort, removing litter and other debris from Research Way, which borders the 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly campus. Once they finished the task, the students headed to the senior community to continue working.
βIt was really great to see the impact we made directly on the community and be able to actually give back and give help,β Catlin said.
The Rotary District 6890, which represents West-Central 91ΒιΆΉΣ³», matched the 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly clubβs $500 donation to assist in helping the regionβs hurricane recovery efforts.
βWeβre really happy the funds can go further now to help those who need it,β Catlin said.
Members of 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polytechnic Universityβs Rotaract Club volunteer to help with hurricane
recovery efforts. From left, the students are Andrew Gogel, Gabriel Hernandez, Aidan
Morris, Carson Bassett, Bryon Catlin, David Corsi, Brandon Camacho, Ian Lopez, Jiovani
Zuniga, Stella Asanova and Noah Campise.
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Lydia GuzmΓ‘n
Director of Communications
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