Valerie’s House helps SWFL grieve after Ian

Whether you’ve lost a loved one or not, Hurricane Ian has affected you.

Seeling all the damage can only add to the mental strain.

That’s where Valerie’s House comes in to help you out.

The number of people visiting for grief support is higher than ever.

Families like the Moranvilles say they are thankful for everything the nonprofit is doing.

“We had pretty bad flooding. Everything in the house was destroyed, so, it was pretty devastating,” Diane Moranville said.

Moranville lost her husband to cancer just weeks before the storm.

Then Ian hit and they lost everything.

“Having more time to sit and talk and reminisce and, you know, losing the home and all of this, we just, our communication is just tremendous. And it’s as bad as it seems. It’s a blessing because we’re getting so much closer. And we’ve always been close, always. It’s opening up, and it’s helping him open up,” she said.

Her son Evan is the reason she decided to call the nonprofit.

“Valerie’s House has helped me and the other moms that are dealing with this same exact thing, some in different ways,” Moranville said. “It really helps you see that, that you’re not alone. And it’s OK to come out and get some help because you need it.”

Evan learned how to rip out drywall after the storm damaged their home.

“I feel more useful. Like, I don’t know, I feel like because I’ve been doing it becausee like before, my dad would just kind of do stuff and I’d be there. But it’s like now actually doing I feel like I’m actually like, a part of something,” Evan said.

Evan said surrounding himself with others going through the same thing helps him feel heard.

“It’s pretty comforting, you know, because none of my friends obviously have that same thing. So, to talk to other people about it who’ve gone through the same thing, especially people who are my age, has been nice,” Evan said.

Valerie’s House, a 100-year-old home in Fort Myers, made it through the storm with barely a scratch.

Since the storm, Valerie’s House has been using it as a refuge for families.

As the death toll rises, the nonprofit said they are getting prepared for the number of children and families who will be grieving the death of a family member due to Ian.

“I think that’s pretty much the main goal, you know, to feel like you’re not the only one. Because if you’re, if you’re just sitting in your house all day, and you’re not talking to other people about it, you’re gonna, you’re gonna feel alone. Especially with stressful times stuff, you’re not gonna, you’re not gonna feel like there’s other people who are going through the same thing who can’t help,” Evan said.