Welcome Home: After Hurricane Milton, Celebrating a Rebuild Just in Time for the Holidays

When Ms. Gray (first name withheld by request) stood in her Clearwater, Florida home on December 17, the repairs were finally done: new floors and ceilings, fresh paint, and a FORTIFIED roof overhead. That day, SBP staff, AmeriCorps members, and corporate partners gathered for a Welcome Home Party to celebrate a significant milestone in her recovery from Hurricane Milton.

“I am so thankful,” Ms. Gray said. “It’s a miracle from God.”

Hurricane Milton damaged her roof and caused leaks throughout her home, forcing her and her family to evacuate as the storm moved through Florida in October 2024. Strong winds brought down large palm trees in her yard and reopened problems she had already worked hard to fix.

Ms. Gray has deep roots in Clearwater, where she raised her family in the home she has lived in for over four decades. Over the years, she also supported local community organizations through her work in the telecom industry. After Hurricane Milton, she found herself navigating a long disaster recovery process at a time when her family was already facing serious health challenges.

Recovery After Hurricane Milton: “Just don’t give up on me.” 

After the storm, Ms. Gray applied to FEMA for disaster recovery assistance, but her application was denied. Around that time, SBP reached out to offer support. She wanted the help, though she was overwhelmed caring for her chronically ill daughter while also helping raise her two grandsons.

“I told Angelina at SBP, ‘Just don’t give up on me,’” Ms. Gray said.

SBP didn’t.

With support from SBP’s partners—including Travelers, Walmart, CDP, UPS, AT&T, Farmers, and the American Red Cross—SBP was able to help Ms. Gray rebuild her home. Within a month, her roof and HVAC unit were replaced, damaged ceilings were repaired, and new flooring was installed throughout the house.

But the final steps of recovery didn’t happen alone.

Volunteers Helping Rebuild: “…seeing the impact it had—that meant a lot.” 

Earlier in December, a group of AT&T employees based in Orlando volunteered with SBP to support Ms. Gray’s Hurricane Milton disaster recovery. Her home marked the 30th SBP rebuilding project supported by volunteers from AT&T. Inside the home, volunteers laid new flooring, removed wallpaper, and repaired walls. Outside, they built and painted a fence, helping bring Ms. Gray’s home closer to completion.

For many of the volunteers that day, the work was new but meaningful.

“This was my first time doing something like this,” said Renee Gibson, an AT&T manager. “But learning how to lay a floor and seeing the impact it had—that meant a lot.”

Meeting Ms. Gray put the day into perspective.

“It really touched my heart,” Gibson said. “To know that something so simple made her feel supported and cared for.”

For Ms. Gray, the connection felt especially fitting. After 35 years working for a phone company, she was now being supported by volunteers from another telecom company—people who showed up, worked side by side, and helped move her disaster recovery forward.

“Giving back is what we need to do,” Ms. Gray said. “What’s happened to me has come full circle.”

Welcome Home: “Keep the hope.”

When the volunteers wrapped up, Ms. Gray’s home was nearly complete. SBP needed to do one more thing. Just days before the holidays, SBP hosted a Welcome Home Party to mark a milestone in Ms. Gray’s disaster recovery journey. Volunteers, SBP staff, and representatives from the American Red Cross and Farmers Insurance gathered to celebrate the progress made on her home after Hurricane Milton.

For Ms. Gray, it was a chance to pause, reflect, and look ahead. She and her family had thought they would lose their home, given the extent of the damage and the repairs needed to make it livable again, but connecting with SBP changed everything.  

“To other homeowners still waiting for repairs or insurance,” she said, “don’t give up. Keep the hope.”

Ms. Gray shared her gratitude with everyone who played a role in her recovery. 

“This wouldn’t have been possible without all of you,” she said. “I’m very thankful. Merry Christmas!”

View the gallery below for more photos from the rebuilding volunteer day and Welcome Home Party: