3 rotary clubs unite to help rebuild East Naples neighborhood

Reporter: Michelle Alvarez Writer: Joey Pellegrino
Published: Updated:

Three different rotary clubs united in February to help rebuild an East Naples neighborhood damaged by Hurricane Ian.

Beverly Dahlstrom and her husband say life since Ian is nothing but clean up and frustration. They lost most of their prized possessions.

Beverly Dahlstrom and her husband. (Credit: WINK News)

“Everything you stepped on, you had that squishy, soft, smelly contamination all over the floors,” said Dahlstrom, former president of the Naples Bay Rotary Club. “Everything was soaked to the point and smelled to the point that you had to throw it out.”

Most of her neighbors dealt with the same issue. In February, three rotary clubs came together to help the people of Royal Arms Villas. They got a grant that allowed them to provide over 1,400 sheets of mold-resistant drywall for 37 homes.

“There are 64 homes here, so a couple people here have gone ahead and started and have finished their remodel—about six houses,” Dahlstrom said. “We have the rest to go; we’re not quite ready for that yet.”

The other homes won’t be ready for remodeling until they get a better sense of how much money they’re going to be getting from their association.

“It’s hard to sign a contract with a construction company that comes in and starts that process,” Dahlstrom said. “Plus, some of us still have the mold to take care of. We’re not going to start remodeling and restoring until we get that done.”

Damage inside Dahlstrom’s home. (Credit: WINK News)

Dahlstrom and her neighbors are struggling to rebuild due to supply chain issues and the cost of materials. She and her husband have been staying in an RV since Ian.

“You can live in an RV for so long, then you’d really like to get your life moving again,” Dahlstrom said. “I think that’s the hardest part. You want to move ahead, you want to get things going; even if it’s just little baby steps, you feel like you’re accomplishing something. Right now, we’re just dead in the water. Literally.”

At the end of the day, however, Dahlstrom says she’s thankful to be alive.

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