Rebuilding Lives in Abaco: Stories of Resilience and Hope

Imagine losing everything you’ve built, every cherished memory encapsulated within the walls of your home. This was the reality for Hank, Nichola, and their son, Wilson, who was just six years old when Hurricane Dorian unleashed its fury. Their two-bedroom home was completely destroyed, submerged under twenty feet of floodwaters. In the immediate aftermath, the government provided temporary dome shelters, intended for short-term refuge. However, five years later, the Russell family is still living in this flimsy structure. These temporary domes are vulnerable to hurricane-force winds and, critically, are highly susceptible to mold, a pervasive issue now affecting the Russell family’s health and living conditions.

Despite these immense challenges, Hank Russell embodies an unwavering spirit of resilience. His deep desire to provide a better life for his family has fueled his relentless efforts. Hank tirelessly worked to acquire a new piece of property, strategically located about three miles inland for greater safety from coastal vulnerabilities. On this land, he has begun the process of rebuilding, brick by brick. With the looming threat of the next hurricane season, the Russell family desperately needs a secure and permanent home.

Within the Abaco community, Hank is widely recognized as a beacon of perseverance and an exceptionally hard worker. His steadfast determination has garnered him a wide network of friends who have rallied around him in support. It was through this spirit of community and his own initiative that Hank connected with Many Hands. While Hank initially sought material assistance, particularly roofing supplies , Many Hands operates with a holistic philosophy: to ensure families have not just a roof over their heads, but a secure, healthy, and dignified place to live.

This vital project, aimed at completing the Russell family’s new home, is estimated to require approximately $15,000 in material costs. Hank and his dedicated network of friends have pledged to work diligently, putting in countless hours to ensure the house is completed before September and the heightened risk of hurricane activity. It is a privilege to support individuals like Hank Russell, community leaders whose intrinsic drive inspires and mobilizes others. Hank’s tenacity and vision serve as a powerful testament to the human spirit’s ability to overcome adversity and build a brighter future for his family and his entire community.

Tracy and Javaughn: A Story of Service and Unfinished Business

Tracy and her son Javaughn are remarkable individuals with a powerful story of their own. Before Hurricane Dorian, Tracy’s husband, Leslie, worked as a mechanic, and their son, Javaughn, then 14, was known throughout the Bahamas for his athletic abilities. When Dorian hit, Javaughn was at an athletic event in Nassau. Tracy ventured out during the hurricane with Leslie to find insulin for him, as he was diabetic. They were caught in the storm, and Tracy miraculously found refuge at a local church after holding onto a tree for dear life. Leslie also barely made it to the church after holding onto a power pole.

Tracy works as a patient care assistant at the government medical clinic in Abaco. As soon as the storm subsided, she was called to work, where she witnessed unimaginable devastation. Despite being covered in her own blood, she desperately tried to save a massive number of injured people. While many left Abaco after the storm, Tracy and Leslie stayed behind to continue serving, providing medical care and food for those in need.

Beyond her medical work, Tracy is well-known in Abaco as the president, coach, and volunteer for the North Abaco Baseball League, constantly mentoring the next generation. She drives hundreds of miles a week, at her own expense, to serve her community. A year after the storm, Leslie tragically passed away from a heart attack, leaving Tracy and their 16-year-old son.

Many Hands has chosen to come alongside Tracy and support her in her community work. Her servant heart, evident in both the medical field and youth sports, is astonishing. Tracy gives tirelessly to those in greater need, often leaving herself with almost nothing. Part of our commitment is to help rebuild her condo. The interior of her home requires approximately $8,500 for finishing touches. Additionally, there is significant roof damage, with rafters beginning to sink, which requires another $6,500. 

By supporting Tracy, we will provide her with a safe and stable home, allowing her to continue her invaluable contributions to the Abaco community.

Join Us in Making a Difference

Here’s why your support for Many Hands for Abaco is crucial and transformative:

• Five years after Hurricane Dorian, families like the Russells are still living in temporary, vulnerable dome shelters, battling issues like mold and the constant threat of hurricane-force winds.
• Hank Russell exemplifies incredible resilience, tirelessly working to rebuild a permanent, safer home for his family after their original home was obliterated by twenty feet of floodwaters.
• Individuals like Tracy, who selflessly served her community as a patient care assistant during the hurricane and continues to lead youth sports, are still living in damaged homes with urgent repair needs.
• We strive to ensure families have secure, healthy, and dignified places to live, empowering them to rebuild their lives and communities. 
• By supporting Many Hands, you directly contribute to providing permanent, safe homes for families in Abaco, allowing them to overcome adversity and build a brighter future, free from the constant fear of the next storm.

Many Hands is an Iowa-based nonprofit creating local and global life transformation. Established in 2008, the organization aims to ignite generosity, grow community, and take people on IMPACT journeys to carve a new, better path to life. Each year, the organization reaches at least 25,000 people through its operations in the Caribbean, IMPACT Trips serving in Abaco, Bahamas, and Many Hands Thrift Markets located in Iowa.

Many Hands is called to transform together, to be love in action, in a broken world.