"I love you all and I'm so grateful to you all."

These were the parting words offered by Mr. C., a local of Pine Island, Florida, as he bade farewell to a Solu delegation of volunteers in January. 

Eleven Jewish volunteers from the Chicagoland Orthodox community had traveled to his house to help with hurricane recovery efforts in Pine Island, in partnership with the Orthodox Union's relief missions group!

Pine Island has been walloped by three hurricanes in recent years, with two in the last few months.

In the first weeks after a hurricane, cities are inundated with resources, but attention wanes as the weeks turn into years. That's where Solu came in: we offered a helping hand to locals who have been waiting months to make their homes livable and couldn't afford the cost of rebuilding.

Together, we demolished Mr. C's damaged deck; moved a large chicken coop; filled a dumpster with debris; made a porch livable; restored dignity...all while dodging mosquitoes, scorpions and even crabs! Most importantly, we spent time with Mr. C, an isolated senior living at the edge of town, heard about his life, listened to his music, and showed him we cared about him. 

"I've never met people like you!" Mr. C told us. "Thank you so much for everything you've done, each and everyone of you."

Our volunteers embodied the pasuk in Shir Hashirim, מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֗ים לֹ֤א יֽוּכְלוּ֙ לְכַבּ֣וֹת אֶת־הָֽאַהֲבָ֔ה" / "Many waters cannot extinguish the love," showing love for strangers in a community that feels forgotten.