Belle first signed up for AmeriCorps in Delaware right before Hurricane Harvey in 2005. She was looking for a way to get involved and give back to the world. Since Belle had a background in construction, working with Habitat AmeriCorps seemed like a natural fit.
Belle was signed up for AmeriCorps and months away from beginning her first term when Hurricane Harvey hit the coast. The resulting floods inundated hundreds of thousands of homes, displacing more than 30,000 people and prompted more than 17,000 rescues. Unfortunately, because Bella’s house in San Antonio was below sea level the floodwaters rose up to the second story of her house. Belle was left homeless, and so with a heavy heart; she informed the Sussex County Habitat office that she wouldn’t be able to start her term of service since she needed to secure a place to live right away.
Belle’s AmeriCorps representative immediately jumped into action and got Belle into housing right away so she could continue with her commitment in Delaware. Belle started there as a construction crew leader, organizing volunteers, supervising the building process and working with the families.
“When you got to know the partner families after a while they start to feel like your own family. The gratitude you would see on their faces during home dedications was inspiring, and those memories are a big part of the reason why I signed up for another AmeriCorps term.”
After Belle’s time in Delaware, she knew she wanted to volunteer again, and wanted to go where she was most needed. After reading about the homelessness problem and housing crisis here in Seattle she decided to sign up with Habitat for Humanity Seattle – King County for another AmeriCorps term. We are so grateful to have such an experienced and amazing volunteer on board with our team here!