A Veteran's Disaster Experience

Harold McKinley: A Veteran’s Stand Against Adversity with Inspiritus

By Richard Luthmann

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Fort Myers tells a stark tale. It’s about Harold McKinley, 91, a Navy veteran, betrayed by those he trusted to repair his home. He’s out $17,000. Enter Inspiritus. They’re not just a group; they’re his saviors.

Julie Dimitrov from Inspiritus is clearcut in her words. “Our mission is simple yet critical. We step in immediately after disasters. Then we stay. We rebuild homes, lives,” she says. Inspiritus joins forces with SHARC, a Florida state program, and groups like Community College Initiative, Pelican Ministries, and Anthem Church. It’s a strong alliance committed to rebuilding and restoring.

Harold’s from Louisville, Kentucky. His past is like a movie. He played football with Johnny Unitas and Paul Horning. He knew Cassius Clay before the world called him Muhammad Ali. “Those were days of strength,” Harold recalls. His voice, though aged, carries a weight. “Then the hurricane came, and those contractors. They left me with nothing. It felt like the end.”

But it wasn’t. Mike Moultrie, Inspiritus’ project manager, oversees the rebuilding. He’s more than a supervisor; he’s a teacher. “It’s about skills, sure. But it’s about spirit, too. We’re teaching these young volunteers to build, help, and care,” Mike states. He’s a man of few words, but each one counts. 

Inspiritus Volunteers with Harold McKinely, 91, in front of his home. They helped him rebuild after Ian and unlicensed contractors struck.Photo byRichard Luthmann / Sun Bay Paper

Volunteers swarm the site. Among them, Deztiny Carter from Colorado Springs, Manuela Huertas, Ruby Martinez. They’re diverse and driven. “I never knew a hammer could be so powerful, not just in building, but in bringing hope,” says Deztiny. Manuela nods. “We’re here to fix walls, but we’re mending more than that.” Ruby’s view is simple. “Different stories, one purpose. Rebuild, restore.”

Harold’s ordeal is not just his. It speaks to a broader problem. Post-disaster, the vulnerable often face deception. Unlicensed contractors are quick to promise and quicker to flee. Harold’s story brings this to light, a grim reality for many.

“A licensed General Contractor gives the customers a safety net. If they are not licensed they are beholden to no one. Always ask for their license, insurance, and employee vetting process to save yourself headaches,” says Troy Conner of First Priority Restoration, a reputable and licensed GC in Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach.

Mike Moultrie and Julie Dimitrov discuss the ongoing work in Harold McKinley's home. Photo by Richard Luthmann/ Sun Bay Paper

But in this story, there’s a quiet triumph. “This house, it’s not just mine. It’s built by hands of strangers, now friends,” Harold says, looking over the bustling site. “It’s more than a structure. It’s a testament to kindness, to humanity.”

Harold McKinley’s story, told in rebuilding his home, is a narrative of resilience. It’s a tale of a community’s strength, a veteran’s unwavering spirit, and the power of collective action against the odds. In the simple yet profound acts of rebuilding, there lies a story of hope, a narrative that resonates with the enduring power of human connection and solidarity. 

To learn more about the Inspiritus Disaster Relief Program and how you can get involved visit www.weinspirit.org/disaster-relief

Disaster Teams Deploy to Hendersonville, TN

Dear Friend,

On Saturday, December 9th, a deadly string of tornadoes tore across Tennessee leaving at least six people dead, more than 50 injured, and an extensive amount of damage to countless homes and businesses. While this deadly storm impacted residents across the state, the city of Hendersonville - in Sumner county - was one of the hardest hit communities. Slammed with an EF-2 tornado, Hendersonville experienced max wind speeds of 130 mph with a staggering width of 400 yards. 

Unfortunately, many of the communities impacted by these devastating tornadoes lack the economic resources and infrastructure needed to recover on their own. It will continue to take the efforts of local and national Response Teams, and supporters like you, to help affected residents rebuild their lives.

WHAT WE ARE DOING

Project Tasks & Activities:

Inspiritus Disaster Response Teams have been deployed to Hendersonville, TN and are on the ground assisting Tennessee Tornado storm survivors on their road to recovery by providing free Home Assessments, Debris Removal, and Chainsaw services. These services are being provided wherever needed most, with priority on assisting those who are the most vulnerable, families with children, seniors, veterans, and especially low-income households.

Arriving on December 12th, our teams have helped over a dozen storm survivors so far, with more homes and families in the queue. Inspiritus volunteers are conducting rapid home needs assessments and are prepared to help deploy spontaneous volunteers to assist with Chainsaw & Debris Removal jobs, as needed.

Our staff are coordinating with County & StateEmergency Management, United Way of Sumner County, Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce, ToolBank USA, and Faith partners including Hendersonville Church of the Nazarene, Concord Mission, and otherTennessee VOAD's (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) in the area to empower these storm survivors on their road to recovery. 

Projected Outcomes:

• Providing Free Debris Removal & Chainsaw Services to Communities as Needed/Available

• Providing Free Home Needs Assessments

• Support Families & Individuals Impacted by the Disaster

Community Benefit:

Inspiritus is working to build local disaster response capacities, while also providing direct services to survivors.

• Capacity Building: Inspiritus is partnering with local emergency and city/county officials to build local disaster response capacity, as needed. We have established a base of operations at Hendersonville Church of the Nazarene, who generously opened their doors to house Inspiritus volunteers. Thanks to the support of Concord Mission, our Response Teams have also been equipped with laundry & shower trailers to utilize over the course of this response operation.

• Direct Services: Inspiritus staff and volunteers are providing Home Needs Assessments, Debris Removal, and Chainsaw services, along with emotional care to bring safety and peace of mind to homeowners requesting assistance. 

• Support & Care: Volunteers are accompanying survivors as they navigate one of the most difficult tragedies and challenges of their lives. In this accompaniment, we walk alongside each individual we come in contact with, helping them to tap into the resilience within themselves. Prayer and spiritual encouragement is often greatly appreciated by many survivors and Inspiritus volunteers often provide this comforting and empowering form of care, when it is welcomed. Hope and hugs are often powerfully strengthening for survivors during their darkest hours.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

DONATE:

As things develop, we will keep you updated on the volunteer needs for this Response operation. In the meantime, we encourage you to support our Tennessee Tornado response efforts by donating. The more funds we raise, the longer our teams can stay on the ground continuing to help individuals & families impacted by the storm. 

To help give hope to as many survivors as possible, Thrivent has made the commitment to match your generosity. For every $2 you donate through our online disaster response campaign, Thrivent will provide a $1 match (up to a maximum of $15,000). We believe in the power of community, and your support can amplify our impact.

You can make a contribution today by clicking the button below. Your support will provide free Home Assessment, Debris Removal, and Chainsaw services to help individuals & families in need, especially those who can't recover without help.

Thank you for being a vital part of our community and supporting Inspiritus in empowering individuals & families on their journey from surviving to thriving.

 

Sincerely,
Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

The Middle Tennessee Tornado: One Year Ago Today

TODAY IS THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE TORNADO

In the early hours of March 3, 2020, the Middle Tennessee Region suffered a deadly tornado that left 25 dead and many homes destroyed. Our Nashville property at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church was spared; however our Germantown and North Nashville neighbors suffered significant damages. We want to take a moment and reflect on the one year anniversary of this disaster.

THE NEED WAS GREAT

North Nashville/Germantown suffered a direct hit to homes and businesses. Initial surveys indicated EF-3 tornado damage in East Nashville, Nashville’s Donelson neighborhood and in Mt. Juliet, a town about 20 miles east of Nashville.

Communities inside and outside of metro Nashville were devastated. Putnam County emergency officials confirmed 18 of the 25 Nashville tornado fatalities occurred in Cookeville, TN.

Inspiritus disaster response teams immediately set up a feeding station for residents in the Nashville area, and sent in volunteer teams for debris removal, chainsawing, and roof tarping.

We worked closely with the Southeastern Synod of the ELCA and other faith partners to provide a daily lunch and access to food and water supplies for local residents and responders.

Local emergency management needed Inspiritus' support with the rapid influx of volunteer and non-profit agency responders coming into the area, so we helped lead the coordination of thousands of volunteers in this response.

At that same time this tornado hit, Middle Tennessee (and the rest of the United States) was hit with another disaster: the coronavirus pandemic. Not only was COVID a danger to these insecure neighborhoods, there was growing concern about the need for hunger relief (especially individuals with disabilities, health risks, low-incomes, and job losses).

Shelter in place orders caused an additional hurdle to the response, but thanks to the determination and perseverance of our staff and volunteers, we were one of the few food pantries to remain open continuously in the Nashville region last year. And, our disaster response volunteers continued to help while following proper CDC guidelines and safety measures.

HOW WE HELPED

• Provided over 1,000 COVID-19 Prevention Kits

• Served 1,909 individuals through our Nashville Food Pantry

• Completed 34,429.50 volunteer hours

• Completed 116 jobs, and 95 home repairs

• Cleared 7 1/2 miles of roads for homeowners’ access

• 5 acres were cleared for a community swimming pool

• Sponsored 204 active family gardens for families in low-income communities

WE'RE STILL WORKING

Today, Inspiritus continues to accompany families who have yet to recover from the Middle Tennessee tornado. With the support of partners like Lutheran Disaster Response, Thrivent, and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, we have teams on the ground now helping repair dozens of homes in Cookeville. We are also currently leading complete home rebuild projects for several families whose homes were destroyed.

Even though a year has passed, some families are still unable to return to their homes. Families like the Hardy family. In case you missed it, watch how we’re restoring hope for the Hardys one year later in this special news report.

This work is only possible because of partners like you. Please consider donating to the Inspiritus disaster relief efforts so we can continue to help more families like the Hardys.

In addition to this recovery effort, we currently have response teams on the ground in neighboring Overton County, TN, and have established a volunteer camp at the local Police Academy. Please join us if you're available! Food and housing is provided. Please email Sabrina More, our Lead Disaster Case Manager / Disaster Relief Volunteer Manager, if you're interested in volunteering at sabrina.more@weinspirit.org

We ask that you join us in prayer for these families and volunteers as we work to empower those still suffering on their path from surviving to thriving.

Gratefully,

Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

Our Middle Tennessee Tornado Response was made possible through partnerships with:

Urgent: Nashville Tornado Response: Day One

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, Nashville suffered a tornado that left at least 22 dead and many homes destroyed.    

The damage from this deadly tornado extends from Nashville, through Mt. Juliet and Putnam County, with new information coming in hourly. Currently, Germantown, East Nashville, Lebanon, and the rural areas along I40 need our help and attention.

Our Nashville property at St. Paul's Lutheran Church was spared; however, our Germantown neighbors suffered significant damages. In Germantown, we are deeply concerned about the hunger needs of the vulnerable families and children without power. We are working closely with the SE Synod of the ELCA and Missouri Synods to expand our Hunger Relief programs at St. Paul's to include a daily lunch and access to food and water supplies for locals and responders. Our disaster team, under the watchful eye of Sherry Buresh, is already assembling and setting up base camp at Christ Lutheran Church to house 15-20 volunteers. Our corporate partners, Home Depot and Lowe's, are donating some limited tools and supplies, but we have many more needs for this response.

Our relief teams are planning to move in just as soon as it is safe to do so. However, we need your help as those vulnerable in the path of this storm will need additional resources and shelter. To that point, we are also collaborating with our friends at Lutheran Disaster Response, the Tennessee VOAD, the Southeastern ELCA Synod, and the Missouri Synod as we assess and prepare our short-term and long-term response and recovery work in Middle Tennessee.

Support our relief efforts by donating today. You'll be making a difference in the lives of those impacted by this latest natural disaster. 

To donate, click here and select Nashville 2020 Tornado. Our prayers are with everyone in this tornado's path.

Blessings to all our friends and family in Nashville!
- Virginia Spencer
Vice President of Development