On January 17, the country celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day to honor his work and pursuit of civil rights and racial equality. SBP and AmeriCorps honor Dr King’s legacy with action — celebrating “a day on” not a day off. Our operating sites hosted volunteers and continued rebuilds for families devastated by recent storms. Their service directly addresses Dr. King’s vision of a Beloved Community which includes fighting poverty and racism among other evils.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. King believed that a better America was possible. He challenged each of us to fight for a more just and equal world. We still have a long way to go.
Houston, 24-hour rebuild
Ms. Duncan, who is blind, felt the waters rising in her home during Hurricane Harvey. She survived the storm, but her home — as a result of the floodwaters — became uninhabitable. It’s been seven years since she’s lived in her own home. Our AmeriCorps team and local volunteers participated in a 24-hour build, serving in three separate shifts to put up drywall and sheetrock. Thanks to this service, Ms. Duncan is much closer to returning to a restored, more resilient home.
Houma, La.
Marian worked nights after her children were asleep to add 1000 square feet to the small home she and her husband purchased for their family. Hurricane Ida’s winds tore her work apart leaving her home unlivable. Marian, her husband, daughter and two grandsons returned from their evacuation and lived in a small shed in the backyard, trying to salvage and repair what they could as Louisiana’s temperatures soared into the triple digits. Family sent a small trailer and that’s where they’ve stayed since we met them and helped gut the home. Our AmeriCorps members and staff spent the day drywalling. Marian and her family are one step closer to returning home.
Puerto Rico
Our AmeriCorps members and staff worked to enable three families to return to their Hurricane Maria-damaged homes. It’s been five years since Iris, Ramón and Carlos were able to live in a rain-free home. Soon, all three will be safe and dry in their own homes again.
Volunteers help us continue our work to bring more families home more quickly. Please join a crew—sign up here.