Restoring Lives After Hurricane Dorian: How Volunteers Built a New Home for a Displaced Resident

A Chance Encounter

After installing windows at Susan Jones’ home, the team met Charles—an elderly man staying in her attic after losing his home to Hurricane Dorian.

What started as a simple conversation quickly revealed a much bigger need.

Facing an Impossible Situation

When visiting the site where Charles’s home once stood, it became clear that rebuilding there wasn’t possible.

With no clear next step and being unfamiliar with the area as non-residents, the path forward felt uncertain.

An Unexpected Opportunity

Later that evening, during a conversation with a local restaurant owner, everything changed.

Grateful for the ongoing work being done in the community, he shared that he owned a piece of land where a small two-apartment home could be built. The lumber had already been donated—what was missing was a team willing to step in and make it happen.

Building Something New

Plans quickly came together.

On the fifth trip to Green Turtle Cay, Cypress Missions and volunteers returned with a clear goal: build a home for Charles.

In just eight days, the team framed and closed the entire structure—transforming an uncertain situation into something permanent and life-changing.

“In just eight days, a place to call home was built from the ground up.”

A Place to Call Home

Today, Charles has a home again.

What began as a chance encounter became a powerful reminder of what can happen when compassion, community, and action come together.

Why This Story Matters

Stories like Charles’s highlight the heart of Cypress Missions.

It’s not just about rebuilding structures—it’s about stepping into unexpected moments, responding to real needs, and creating lasting impact where it matters most.