$300,000 Donated to Harlem Heights for Jena Restoration

HARLEM HEIGHTS, Florida. Tuesday marked 5 months since Hurricane Ian hit our area, and an area in southwest Florida that Fox 4 spent a lot of time in after the storm is receiving significant recovery assistance.

It was announced that $300,000 had been donated to the recovery from Hurricane Yan in the Harlem Heights area.

“Many times people automatically turn to the government for all their problems and issues,” Mayor Kevin Anderson (R-Fort Myers) said. “I’m sorry to say that often we don’t do it well. What really matters is when communities come together.”

Harlem Heights was a key area that was heavily damaged during Jan, and as you walk around the area, you can still see the devastation. About 400 children live in the neighborhood and have recently returned to school just three weeks ago.

“We thought we could handle it, but there’s no way we’re going to survive this storm with five feet of water,” said Harlem Heights resident Angelo Rivera.

Rivera recalled what it was like when water invaded his home during Hurricane Yang.

“In a matter of seconds, about four feet of water gushed towards us,” Rivera said. “I’ve never weathered such a storm.”

Luckily, he and his family were able to swim to the home of their friend Juan Vasquez to board his boat. Vasquez provided Fox 4 with photos of what the area looked like on the day of the storm.

Photo courtesy of Juan Vasquez

“Ian dealt a hell of a blow to our community and while he knocked us down, he by no means knocked us down,” Mayor Anderson said. “This community is so resilient, so strong, that we started to bounce back the next morning. We have not stopped and will not stop until we are whole again.”

Still standing exactly five months after the storm, Rivera is one of many Harlem Heights residents who received a new roof from Rebuilding Together.

“How was I chosen? I don’t know, they just appeared out of nowhere,” Rivera laughed.

$200,000 was donated by Home Depot and TD Bank donated $100,000.

“This community needs it too, we need it, just like everyone else,” said Walter Marion, a Harlem Heights resident.

Marion has called Harlem Heights his home for 16 years, and like many in the community, he said he couldn’t speak to other organizations or government agencies, but he was grateful for the volunteers who came after Ian to help rebuild.

“Let me tell you something, these volunteers are doing a good job, they have almost completed my house,” said Marion. “We are not forgotten.”

“I love these people, they helped us and we will help them,” Rivera said.

Donated funds will be used to help families and residents rebuild their homes and lives.