St. Pete’s Hometown Recovery Haulers made significant strides in clearing the city’s massive debris from recent storms. Participants noted the program’s impact went far beyond just cleaning up after the hurricanes.

This short-term initiative involved 100 local business owners and residents who collected storm debris throughout St. Pete. Beyond cleaning up, the program aimed to stimulate the local economy. Participants were paid $300 for each load of debris they removed, with the debris being disposed of at temporary sites.

The city approved 5,247 hauls, costing a total of $1,574,100 for the program.

Antwan Wells, owner of Community Resources and Solutions, felt compelled to join the effort after seeing the devastation. “It was life-changing for both those helping and those who suffered losses,” he explained, emphasizing the loss of personal items like clothes, shoes, and cherished photos.

Ronald Gibson, from Good & Efficient Services, also participated and used the opportunity to expand his workforce, hiring up to 25 people to assist in cleaning 25 homes. “I wanted to help as many people as possible, especially with the holidays approaching when many were struggling,” Gibson shared.

Complementing the Hometown Recovery Haulers, over 60 city trucks and more than 60 contracted haulers were deployed to manage the debris cleanup in St. Pete, according to Bay News 9.

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(Image credit: City of St. Petersburg)