Two longtime Tampa residents who have spent their lives giving to others are now on the receiving end.

  • Volunteers help refurbish homes damaged by Hurricane Irma
  • Homes of longtime Tampa residents painted and yards cleaned
  • Funding was provided by Spectrum Networks

Freddie Jenkins has lived in her Spruce Street home since she was 6. She was devastated when Hurricane Irma damaged the roof and pulled off some of the siding. 

She's spent a lifetime giving to others as a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp and employee at the Department of Veterans Affairs in St. Petersburg. 

On Saturday more than 30 volunteers arrived at her home ready to help. The team from Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, the City of Tampa, and Spectrum Networks spent their day painting her home and cleaning the yard. In March, they put on a new roof. 

It was a very similar scene across the street at Vallery Jafar's house. The retired school bus driver says she's been anxious ever since a branch damaged her roof during the hurricane. 

"Everyday it just felt like, oh my goodness, what am I going to do?" Jafar said. 

She also received a new roof and home refurbishment.  

"I just feel so blessed, I'm so thankful, I really am," Jafar said. 

With funding provided by Spectrum Networks, a total of 15 Tampa homeowners will have their roofs replaced through the project.