Love City

Thank you, St. John

DECEMBER 13, 2018

“All Hands and Hearts volunteers have helped me out a lot. A lot, a lot. I wouldn’t have been able to take out any of that stuff out of my house, you know? They came down and helped. They helped a lot of people out. Almost every one of my friends. That’s everyone who lives here. Yeah, it’s great help…It’s amazing to see 16 years of stuff disappear in just a week or so.” Gary Stinson.

st_john_usa_hurricane_beneficiary_one_smiling_headshot — Gary Stinson

Gary, or Surfer Gary as we like to call him, is one of the many people of St. John who had his house destroyed and life changed forever by two back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes. Hurricanes Irma and Maria left behind a trail of wreckage and devastation, but from the time All Hands and Hearts volunteers set foot on the island, we’ve witnessed the people here continue to give everything they have.

“I worked on Surfer Gary’s property for almost a month, and every day he could he would bring us fresh fruit and cold drinks…even now, weeks after we finished working at his house, he still comes around checking on volunteers who have made friendships with him…and has even offered free surf lessons to the volunteers…when we tried to pay him he claimed the smiles on our faces were more than enough.” All Hands and Hearts Volunteer, AJ Gaines

st_john_usvi_usa_hurricane_volunteer_beneficiary_couple_smiling_headshot

st_john_usvi_usa_hurricane_volunteer_one_smiling_headshot

Each day we wake we are inspired by the residents’ resilience, compassion, courage, strength, resourcefulness, and their capacity to love.

st_john_usvi_usa_hurricane_recovery_volunteer_beneficiary_group_smiling — Homeowners, volunteers, and staff at the Homeowner Dinner.

st_john_usvi_usa_hurricane_staff_beneficiary_couple_smiling_headshot

For All Hands and Hearts St. John Program Director Ryan Cuevas, true joy comes from seeing the change and togetherness reflected in the community.

“The greatest gift of this job is knowing that every action we make is really just paying it forward and witnessing it come back around – the bartender buying you a round after learning you had assisted her best friend, the landscaper driving by for the fifth time and dropping off gatorades for the whole team as he too goes through his day to day in the scorching sun…no matter the scale of the deed, to be part of this beautiful cycle is what it means to be a part of Love City, and for this, I am truly blessed.”

st_john_usvi_usa_beneficiary_couple_hugging_headshot

st_john_usvi_usa_hurricane_recovery_staff_one_smiling_headshot

“To the people of St. John, you have shown me the spirit of grace throughout hardship. Despite all, your beautiful smiles lighten heavy burdens. Your endurance and willpower to keep going is an inspiration now and will forever remain in my heart. I love the islands, but I love you more. Peace always.” All Hands and Hearts Volunteer, Elle Krievs

st_john_usvi_usa_hurricane_volunteer_group_working

st_john_usvi_usa_beneficiary_one_smiling_headshot

It is our great privilege to get to work hand to hand and heart to heart with St. Johnians. Thank you for reminding us of the power of community. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for showing us what a miracle looks like.