This is my journey of volunteering for All Hands and Hearts (AHAH) in St. John, US Virgin Islands.  This is the first time I've ever volunteered like this, but it won't be the last.  And I would encourage you to explore the options of All Hands and Hearts volunteering and/or donating.  You can donate through my page here.

2/27/18

Left @3:30am for the start of my volunteering adventure to St. John.  (Chicago to Miami to St. Thomas to St. John)  I took 2 planes, 1 ferry and 2 taxis.  I was both excited and nervous since I wasn't exactly sure what to expect.

Once in St. John, I took a taxi to Caneel Bay (base camp).  Enroute I saw about 1/4 of the buildings had no roofs, partial roofs or blue tarps over their roofs covering damage.  I saw 1 house completely demolished.  There were also a lot of businesses that have signs up "Now Open".  Some hotels are not open yet, still too damaged.  Huge piles of debris mostly in dumps and some on the side of the road.

When I got to Caneel Bay Resort it was gated.  A security guard took me to camp via a golf cart.  It was hard to see since it was dark.  I met Dom who gave me orientation and a ham sandwich for dinner.  Met several team members, too many to remember names.  Will work on that tomorrow.  I was shown to my cot.  I'm in a room with 10 cots including my own.  There are about 10 volunteers at camp and 7 staff.  I had about 1 hour to setup my cot and get ready for bed before lights go out at 9pm.  It was very hard to sleep as I was anxious for work tomorrow.

2/28/18

Worked on house on other side of island from base camp with team Chelle (team leader), Sam, Alan & Orion.  Tore down drywall and QC (remove nails & screws) in my long pants, work boots, tshirt, safety glasses, respirator and hard hat.  Took several breaks as it was very hot in all that gear.  I worked in kitchen and over outside french doors.  Homeowners were very nice and house had amazing views.  Homeowners worked on the outside of their house while we were working inside.

Sat on their back balcony eating our sack lunch over looking Round Bay & Newfound Beach.  The homeowner made us ice tea to drink with lunch.  It was amazing!

When working in the house it was really hard to wrap my brain around the amount of damage in the house (moldy and wet drywall, damaged roofs, ripped apart decks, missing french doors, ruined personal property & furniture) and the beautiful view outside.  As we drove to work this morning, power lines are just laying on the road or in the bushes/trees where ever they were cut down.  Lots of animals roaming free including roosters, chickens, wild donkeys, deer, lizards, cats, mongoose.

When we got back to base camp, another volunteer told me that today when they were at lunch in a cafe, people applauded them and thanked them for volunteering on the island.

Had chicken legs and mashed potatoes for dinner.  I was exhausted after work and wondered how I would make it for 2 weeks of volunteering.  Couldn't wait to take a shower and go to bed.

3/1/18

Worked on the same house as yesterday with the same team.  Tore out more drywall, QC and tore apart some box spring beds to put appropriate material in correct garbage piles.  Had to separate wood, building materials, metals and personal household items so garbage can be taken to the dumps.  The garbage contractor came today.  Everyone was excited.  They were super efficient and had all the garbage taken away quickly.   Homeowners were elated.  It's very hot today.  Sweating a lot in my mask.

Ate our sack lunch again on the homeowners balcony and she made iced tea again for us for lunch.  Chai tea today.  At the end of the day, homeowners toasted us to say thank you.  They said they'd been depressed since there was so much damage to their home but since we were there and working so hard, they felt rejuvenated.  All Hands and Hearts had been there for a total of eight days.  I was there just the last 2 days.  The homeowners invited the volunteers back to stay with them for a week once they got their house put back together including families.  They were so thankful for all our help.

On the way back to base camp, took pictures of the scenery including hurricane hole, a bay where the boats went to protect themselves from the hurricanes but all the boats got smashed up.  In previous hurricanes, this bay had been a safe refuge from the hurricanes.  We also stopped for a slushy from a roadside place.

Two things occurred to me today.  FIrst, the Team Leaders (TL) and AHAH focus in on the homeowners and make them a huge part of the process asking them all along the way what they want us to do and informing them of our progress and recommendations on what we found and what to do next.    Doing the work is all about what is best for the homeowner.  And second, everyone works together and does a HUGE amount of work everyday.  I'm feeling a part of the team now because of the great volunteers that I'm working with.

The team of volunteers is very welcoming to new volunteers and new volunteers are shown how to do everything.  So if you don't have experience using a hand drill or a sawzaw for example, you'll be shown so you can use it.

While we worked today, the staff built 2x4 bunk beds to accommodate more people.  5 more volunteers have arrived since I did.  Base camp can handle 25 volunteers.  I moved my cot to one of the lower bunks.  Spaghetti for dinner tonight.

3/2/18

Spent 1/2 a day finishing up the house we've been working on.  Did mostly QC today while several other team members gutted a bathroom and bedroom.  The second kitchen needs to be gutted but the homeowners did not want to do that now.  They had just remodeled that kitchen right before the hurricane hit.

Irma was a category 5 that had big winds that created tornadoes.  One of those tornadoes hit this house.  Then 1 1/2 weeks later hurricane Maria hit, also a Category 5 and dumped a lot of rain.  Since Irma had tore off so many roofs, the rain from Maria ruined many houses on the inside.  And after 6 months, roofs are still not fixed and drywall is still wet and creating black mold.  Because of the wind speed from the hurricanes, all leaves were stripped off the trees and many palm trees' tops were just snapped off.  The foliage is still recovering.

The wrap around deck on this house was ripped off and destroyed.

This was our last lunch on their deck with the magnificent view.  The homeowners were very gracious and thankful for all we had done for them.  They invited us to a potluck on the beach their neighborhood was having on Sunday.

We went to a new house the second half of the day.  Roof was being replaced.  House was cement so it had less damage.  Son was in from Texas and helping his mom get her house back in order.  Kitchen needed to be gutted and a lot of outside work... cutting up trees, removing decking and clearing the remains of a building.  The mom had been staying in Florida since the hurricanes.  Working with a new team of 4 volunteers today except same Team Leader (Milana, Mike, Alan and Chelle).   I worked inside on helping gut the kitchen.  The son and his wife worked on cleaning up the yard while we were working.

Went with a group down to Honeymoon beach by base camp today to watch the sun set.  It was beautiful!

2 new people in base camp today.  Since so many people are arriving at base camp, I now feel like a veteran and am helping the new people navigate their volunteer experience.  Rice, hamburger and veggie stir fry for dinner.

3/3/18

At same house as yesterday afternoon.  Different team but same Team Leader (Kalita, Chelle, Jordan & Scott).  Did mostly yard work today.  Picked up debris (wood decking, fences), cut up stuff with the sawzaw.  Met guys from DubCC today (Washington Conservation Corp).  They cut up fallen trees and we hauled to trash pile.

Went to a cafe, Pickles, for lunch.  They had wifi so I was able to post my first pictures to Facebook.  Base camp has really unreliable wifi.  I'm only able to send texts sometimes to my family.  Some people ate their sack lunch but I chose to get a chicken sandwich.  It was nice to eat something different then a homemade sandwich.

There are a lot of wrecked cars around.  The island foliage is starting to take it over.

Did deep cleaning of base camp today after work and had orientation today before work.  I cleaned bathrooms and showers with Kalita.  Swam at Honeymoon beach tonight.  2 new volunteers came into camp today.  Chicken fingers (grilled & fried) with stir fry veggies and mashed potatoes for dinner.  This is our last day of work for the week.

3/4/18

DAY OFF!

I was interviewed by the New York Times while I was volunteering in St. John.  Click here to see the article.