A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished.
Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization.
Harlem Heights says goodbye to Adventures in Missions
The rebuilding efforts encompassed the majority of the neighborhood's more than 300 homes, said Chris Horvath.
The couple from rural Minnesota had been living out of a 42-foot camper in Harlem Heights with their four young children and dog since October 2022, the month after Ian’s catastrophic surge flooded the low-lying neighborhood.
“We are at peace knowing that we came and accomplished what we were called to do,” said Sarah Horvath, before closing the group’s base camp at an old day care center off Gladiolus Drive in late May.
“A piece of our heart will always be in Harlem.”
One of the final homes completed was for Farrah Ellis. The school bus driver had been living with her mother since the surge shoved several feet of water into her mobile home. She returned to a rebuilt, refurnished home in May.
“I can’t stop smiling,” Ellis said. “I never want to go anywhere. I just want to be home. It’s looking great out here and I’m very proud to be a part of Harlem.”
Adventures in Missions partnered with other agencies, such as The Heights Foundation, another refuge for residents after Ian. Collaboration was key to storm recovery in Harlem Heights, where nearly 40% of the 1,700 residents live below the poverty line.
“The Heights Foundation had such an investment into this community for years prior to the storm, that it created just this perfect landing spot for us,” said Sarah Horvath.
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A young volunteer enjoys ice cream. A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished. Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization. Before the organization left the area they held an ice cream social to say goodbye to the now loved neighbors.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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Sandra Goodman, Harlem Heights resident and volunteer, talks with volunteers at the ice cream social. A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished. Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization. Before the organization left the area they held an ice cream social to say goodbye to the now loved neighbors.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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Sarah Horvath, Adventures In Missions Leader, hugs a Harlem Heights neighbor on the last day the group will be in the area. A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished. Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization. Before the organization left the area they held an ice cream social to say goodbye to the now loved neighbors.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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A group photo was taken at the end of the ice cream social. A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished. Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization. Before the organization left the area they held an ice cream social to say goodbye to the now loved neighbors.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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A group photo was taken at the end of the ice cream social. A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished. Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization. Before the organization left the area they held an ice cream social to say goodbye to the now loved neighbors.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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Sarah Horvath, Adventures In Missions Leader, made her way around the different tables talking to everyone. A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished. Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization. Before the organization left the area they held an ice cream social to say goodbye to the now loved neighbors.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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Sarah Horvath, Adventures In Missions Leader, made a book of the groups’s year long experience to give to the Height’s foundation. Pat Mitchell and her husband Anthony Arnold, Harlem Heights residents of 72years, and volunteer, Kevin Asencio, look through the book. A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished. Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization. Before the organization left the area they held an ice cream social to say goodbye to the now loved neighbors.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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A family looks through all the items that were lefts in the market. Thousands of items were donated to help get the residents back on their feet. A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished. Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization. Before the organization left the area they held an ice cream social to say goodbye to the now loved neighbors.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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Pat Mitchell, Harlem Heights resident, shows the book to other’s residents. A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished. Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization. Before the organization left the area they held an ice cream social to say goodbye to the now loved neighbors.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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Harlem Heights residents look through all the items that were lefts in the market. Thousands of items were donated to help get the residents back on their feet. A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished. Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization. Before the organization left the area they held an ice cream social to say goodbye to the now loved neighbors.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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A Harlem Heights resident looks to buy lamps as volunteer Dan Eischens, volunteer from Minneapolis, helps her bring them to her car. Thousands of items were donated to help get the residents back on their feet. A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished. Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization. Before the organization left the area they held an ice cream social to say goodbye to the now loved neighbors.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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Boards used for planning line the room. A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished. Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization. Before the organization left the area they held an ice cream social to say goodbye to the now loved neighbors.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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Volunteers enjoy their last dinner before heading home. A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished. Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization. Before the organization left the area they held an ice cream social to say goodbye to the now loved neighbors.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
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Sarah Horvath, Adventures In Missions Leader, hugs a Harlem Heights neighbor on the last day the group will be in the area. A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished. Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization. Before the organization left the area they held an ice cream social to say goodbye to the now loved neighbors.
Andrea Melendez/WGCU
Low-income residents are often the most socially vulnerable to hurricanes and experts say their recovery can take more than a decade.
Before leaving, Adventures in Missions hosted a good-bye ice cream social, which drew grateful residents. “I hate to see them leave, but they’ll come back again,” said Sandra Goodman. “They are welcome here in Harlem Heights.”
Adventures In Missions Leader puts book together to celebrate their time in Harlem Heights
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