Volunteers Needed For Ian Longterm Recovery Project

If you've been looking for a way to get directly involved with recovery efforts in Southwest Florida, here's your chance!

Sol Relief is partnering with Good Samaritan Shipping Ministries (GSSM) to help clear out and renovate the homes of families that need it the most. Beneficiaries include the elderly, widows, uninsured, and underinsured.

What type of work will volunteers be doing, where, and when?

Work will include interior demolition (gutting) of homes, installing drywall & sheetrock, debris removal, and light construction projects. 

Unskilled labor is welcome; we will teach you!

All volunteers will be working in Ian-affected area (South Fort Myers)

Teams of volunteers will be working the next 6 weeks beginning November 2nd. Each team will work a Wednesday - Sunday work cycle.

Who can volunteer?

We are looking for 8-10 person teams that can go on 4-5 day trips to the affected areas.  If you don't have an 8-10 person team, you can be matched with other individuals to make a team. 

We are also offering opportunities to individuals who can only go for 1 or 2 nights.

What does it cost and where will volunteers be staying?

We are asking for a $500 donation per person to cover lodging and food while volunteering.  However, there are scholarships available so if you cannot afford the donation but still want to volunteer, please contact Sol Relief at info@solrelief.org to see if there are any scholarship opportunities remaining.

Volunteers will be staying in Airbnb homes. The Airbnb reservations have already been made and costs are covered by the $500 per person donations.

Do volunteers need to bring anything with them?

All volunteers are asked to bring an air mattress and bedding, work clothing, work gloves, and masks. Additionally, all volunteers will need to sign a liability waiver to participate. 

All tools, supplies, and materials will be provided.

How will volunteers be transported to Southwest Florida and back?

All volunteers will need to provide their own transportation. Sol Relief and Good Samaritan Shipping Ministries will not be transporting volunteers to Southwest Florida.

How do volunteers sign up or get additional details?

If interested please email shawna@gssmi.org or send a message to GSSM’s Facebook page.

If You Want To Help But Cannot Participate

If you aren't interested in (or aren't capable of) doing manual labor but still want to help then monetary donations are welcome. Material costs are spiking due to the storm and your donations will be used to fund this volunteer effort.