Hands-On Hope: Farmers Insurance Volunteers Help Rebuild Homes with SBP

Michele Cupedro spent two days in September painting a stranger’s home in Tampa, Florida. With temperatures over 100 degrees, the work was tough. “It was hot, but that’s okay,” she said. “We were helping get the house closer to being ready. I was happy to be part of that.”

Cupedro, a service advocate for Bristol West Insurance Group, a Farmers Insurance Company, was part of a group of Farmers employees volunteering at an SBP rebuilding site that week.

The house belongs to a veteran and her family, whose home was damaged when Hurricane Helene swept through Florida a year ago. The Category 4 storm, followed by Hurricane Milton less than two weeks later, left many individuals and communities navigating a long and overwhelming road to recovery. Since October 2024, SBP has rebuilt more than 50 homes for families affected by the back-to-back hurricanes, thanks in part to the power of corporate partners and volunteers.

Volunteers are a crucial part of SBP’s mission. Whether they come as individuals, student groups, faith communities, or corporate teams, they help foster community, hope, and resilience for families facing their most difficult moments. Since its founding, SBP has engaged over 151,000 volunteers nationwide, fostering meaningful connections between residents and those who serve alongside them.

SBP’s collaboration with Farmers Insurance, which began in 2011, is a powerful example of this impact in action. Farmers employees have volunteered over 50,000 hours on SBP worksites in Louisiana, Florida, Texas, Missouri, and New Jersey, helping disaster survivors rebuild safe and stable homes.

“Farmers has a long-standing commitment to supporting communities in times of need. By working with SBP, we’re not only helping homeowners rebuild, but also investing in long-term recovery and resilience. We’re grateful to our employees and partners who help bring this commitment to life through volunteer service,” said Courtney Vandermause, Director of Corporate Citizenship and Employee Engagement at Farmers Insurance.

Farmers’ support of SBP’s work extends beyond hands-on service. Farmers’ backing enables SBP to provide free FEMA application and appeals assistance to homeowners, an essential step toward rebuilding and getting families back home faster, making the path to recovery more accessible for families who might otherwise go without help. Farmers also supports SBP’s long-term recovery and resilience work. Through programs like Regional Recovery Acceleration Week (RRAW) workshops and Resilience Fellows, local leaders in under-resourced communities gain the tools and support they need to guide recovery.

“Every volunteer who shows up on a build site represents a turning point for a family,” said Mike Sullivan, Director of Service Experience at SBP. “Farmers’ ongoing partnership with SBP has multiplied that impact, helping us rebuild homes, train local leaders, and make long-term recovery possible in communities that might otherwise be left behind.”

The rebuilding project in Florida gave Cupedro a chance to give back to her own community. “I live in the same town, so it felt really meaningful. I’m not a DIY person, but I can still contribute and make a difference.”

Fellow volunteer Victoria Rowan shared a similar experience. Rowan, a senior medical representative for Farmers, signed up through Farmers’ corporate citizenship program and chose a local project just 45 minutes from home. “It was hard work, but it felt great to see the rooms take shape,” she said.

Although she had volunteered with other nonprofits before, this was Rowan’s first time doing rebuilding work. What stood out most to her was seeing the progress and knowing their efforts made a tangible difference.

“We were one step closer to helping the family move back in,” Rowan said. “Doing our part that week and then seeing the work that was done before us made me appreciate how much goes into helping a family get back home.”

Both volunteers hope their experience with SBP encourages others to step in. “Jump in and give it a try,” Cupedro said. “Doing something meaningful that helps someone else is really rewarding.”