Volunteers still rebuilding homes in Bay Area after Irma

TAMPA (FOX 13) - Freddie Jenkins says it was scary living in her West Tampa home before construction crews replaced her roof.

Jenkins’ parents owned the house before her, and her grandparents owned it before that. She has lived in the same house for the last 60 years, but after Hurricane Irma, it was no longer the home she had known.

Jenkins received some much-needed help repairing her home Saturday from volunteers with Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay.

The group continues critical repair work in the Bay Area as a part of their long-term recovery project.  

“We did construction work, more specifically a roof replacement, drywall, soffit, and fascia just to make sure that we have a home that is dry, safe and healthy for the homeowners,” said Executive Director Jose Garcia.

Rebuilding Together facilitates critical home repair work for low-income families. Recently volunteers have been focusing on repairs leftover from Hurricane Irma.

The non-profit rounded up 60 volunteers to continue painting and yard work on two West Tampa homes on Saturday.

About 30 worked on freshening up the paint on Freddie Jenkins' home, and 30 more turned the exterior of Vallerie Jafar’s home from blue to a soft yellow.

“I feel lifted, financially, spiritually and emotionally. It's a good feeling,” said Jafar as she watched volunteers transform her house.

Rebuilding Together relies on volunteer work and community partnerships.

Since their creation in 2000, the non-profit has completed critical home repairs on over 500 Tampa Bay Area homes.