LAKELAND, Fla. — Years of memories are still scattered on the ground of Light and Life Mobile Home Park following Hurricane Milton.

What You Need To Know

  • Light and Life Mobile Home Park is in desperate need of volunteers after Hurricane Milton

  •  Residents say more than 160 within the retirement community experienced flood damage

  • Though several volunteer groups helped clear debris, residents say there's more work to be done

“Here you’re seeing debris from a trailer that we had to get rid of because it was just too damaged,” resident Flo Grabowski said.

Grabowski didn’t experience any flood damage personally, but she says more than 160 mobile homes within the retirement community were impacted.

“This is the worst that I’m told it has been,” she said. “Some people are further along in the rebuilding process, and others haven’t even started, and that’s where the volunteers are needed — as many as we can get.”

Recently, volunteer groups helped clear debris from the middle of roads. Lighthouse Ministries also provides weekly meals to the community. However, resident Dale Schantz said there’s a lot more work to be done.

“We need the volunteers, because there are some elderly women who can’t do the work, and some men who can’t do the work,” Schantz said. “The volunteers will be fantastic in helping put up drywall and do so many things.”

He said that need is especially urgent once residents return to Light and Life Park after the holidays.

Despite the long road ahead, Grabowski said she’s grateful for the progress that’s been made.

“I didn’t feel like the park could ever recover, but the Lord had it in his plan to take back all the debris and haul it out of here through the efforts of the park staff and the volunteers. And as you can see, we see a path forward,” she said.

But with additional support, Grabowski said that path will become much brighter.

Anyone interested in getting more information about volunteering can contact community advocate Jayme Sinsmyr at 231-838-6164.