ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Back in August, 8 On Your Side told you about a St. Pete family who was desperate for help to fix their home and roof, which were damaged during last year’s hurricane season.

A local non-profit saw their story and they’re now stepping in to help.

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The family who lives in this St. Pete home has faced hardship after hardship following last year’s storms. Rebuilding Together Greater Florida is stepping in to help them rebuild their lives.

“I’m so grateful, you know, for all the help with my son and the things we have been going through with our house,” said the homeowner, Edith Williams.

Maurice Woodard is a full-time caretaker for his 78-year-old mom Edith Williams.

“I stopped my life and stop everything, and I take care of her and that’s my thing,” Woodard said.

News Channel 8 first introduced you to them back in August and told you when they returned to their home following the storms last year. They had found their gutters blown off, a damaged roof and some flooding. With no insurance and limited help from FEMA, they turned to 8 On Your Side.

Rebuilding Together Greater Florida saw their story.

“Because of you, we learned that Ms. Williams had an issue and was trying to give her a roof repair, which is, we are going to do it,” said Jose Garcia, Rebuilding Together Greater Florida CEO. “We found another essential need that we need to address. There is some presence of lead paint, we want to repair that piece. We also going to work a little better electrical issue as well, having air conditioning issues.”

CEO Jose Garcia said Rebuilding Together and the American Red Cross partnered last month to dedicate a $3 million grant to repair storm damaged homes and support families across five Tampa Bay area counties.

“We all work in partnership to make sure that everybody is, as is, receiving all the needs in order for them to live very in a healthy and a safer manner,” Garcia said.

It’s not only about the repairs. It’s about making Williams and Woodard’s home more resilient against future storms.

“You know, not only taking a burden off of me, but you can just see her smile and you see, you know, her come alive. And if you don’t have things to worry about, you know, so can let her enjoy the time that she has here,” Woodard said.

Woodard said their help is life changing. They’re thankful that the community is helping them.

“You have people who really show genuine love and care, so that just give(s) hope,” Woodard said. “The others, and I know others are going through it, so if you can call Brittany, call Channel 8 and the Red Cross, and you know they’re here for you.”

Rebuilding Together said work is set to begin October 27.

The non-profit says the goal is to help more than a hundred more families across Tampa Bay.

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