POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Several Polk County groups have come together to help a Marine veteran whose home was badly damaged by Hurricane Irma last year.
- Military veteran's home damaged by Hurricane Irma
- Andrew McFarlane lived without electricity for 13 months
- Rodda Construction, WHAYS fundraising for effort
- About $20,000 worth of work remaining
- Want to donate? Click HERE
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The storm sent a huge tree crashing down on Andrew McFarlane’s house. Its roof was ruined, and there was a lot of water damage on the inside.
McFarlane didn’t have insurance or the cash to make immediate repairs, so he got busy cleaning up the tree with a huge chain saw. He did what repairs he could and lived without electricity for 13 months, toughing it out in the house.
"That’s what you do,” he said. “You adapt and overcome. You don’t go whining to people. You just do it.”
Rodda Construction learned about McFarlane’s situation and started to help him with repairs. The Broadway Real Estate Services Company and a veteran's group called We Honor and Appreciate Your Service have been helping to raise funds for the repairs.
They call the effort “Operation Re-Build.”
“I personally believe it was a God thing,” said Michael Bartos with WHAYS. ”It was put in our lap and it gave us the opportunity to put feet to faith.”
McFarlane is very happy for the help but uncomfortable receiving it because of his status as a military veteran.
“Well, like I say, I don’t want to feel entitled," he said. "I felt a little uncomfortable but happy at the same time.”
There is about $20,000 worth of work left to be done on McFarlane’s house. The repairs could be done in about a month if the needed funds are donated.
To learn more about "Operation Re-Build" or to make a donation, visit WHAYS on the web at whays2help.org.