May Update: The Porch From the Storm
Hello Friends,
If there’s one word that sums up May for us, it’s restoration — not just of what was lost, but of what we never saw coming: friendship, hope, and something that’s starting to feel a lot like family.
This month, we had the honor of building a front porch for a couple who have been dreaming about it since they first moved to Pensacola. It wasn’t just about giving them a space to sit outside — it was about helping restore a piece of what was taken by the storm, and giving back a little peace, a little beauty, and a lot of love.
🌳 A Porch That Grew from the Storm
The deck itself is a picture of resilience.
We used store-bought lumber for the framing and decking, but everything else — the posts, railings, and trim — came from trees that had fallen during Hurricane Helene. Early on in the recovery, a group of amazing volunteers showed up with a portable sawmill and turned that devastation into something useful.
That leftover lumber, once scattered on the forest floor, became something whole again.
The posts came from two massive downed sycamores
The railings were shaped from rough-sawn boards
The trim was made from mill offcuts, giving the porch a raw, earthy character that felt like it had always been part of the forest
It’s not just a porch. It’s a reminder that something beautiful can come from the broken things.
👣 Family in the Making
What made this build so special wasn’t just the materials — it was the people.
Our leadership team built it shoulder-to-shoulder with a few volunteers we’ve come to love — folks we met through the sawmill crew, who have become more than just friends. We didn’t know each other before the storm, but this kind of work has a way of turning strangers into family.
We laughed. We sweated. We shared meals and stories and small moments that reminded us we’re all in this together.
✨ A Night of Light
When the porch was finished, the couple hosted a celebration — not just for the build, but for everything that’s grown since the storm. There was food, music (shoutout to one of our leaders for bringing her cousin to DJ), and so much joy.
It was one of those nights where you look around and realize: this is what healing looks like. Not just a repaired home — but a restored community. A porch full of people. Smiles that didn’t come easy a few months ago. Laughter echoing through trees that were once broken.
🔭 Looking Ahead
May reminded us that we’re not just rebuilding structures — we’re rebuilding lives, piece by piece, with love at the center of it all.
Thanks for standing with us — for being part of this messy, beautiful story of hope.
