Sunshine in the Storm

Natural disasters like Hurricane Ian can have a devastating effect on a community. Sunshine Ace Hardware in Bonita Springs, Florida, was a lifeline for people to get the supplies they needed to survive and repair the storm and flood damage. Those same Ace associates who rolled up their sleeves to help customers were in the middle of dealing with damage to their own homes.

For Michael Wynn, Owner of Sunshine Ace Hardware, it was a level of destruction he had never seen before.

"My family history in Florida goes back to the 1880s. Our family has faced countless hurricanes, but never one like this," said Michael. "I have to say I was truly humbled when I came in the store less than 24 hours after Hurricane Ian had passed, to see our associates ready to help customers despite having damage to their own homes."

One of the manager's responsibilities after a storm is to identify where associates are and to make sure they are safe. The team at Sunshine Ace also coordinated food for the team, as well as pillows, clothes, and toiletries. For some Ace associates, the assistance went further.

Rich Starbuck, Manager of Sunshine Ace Hardware, was at work despite having significant damage to his home. While Rich was helping customers at Ace, his wife was at home dealing with the damage and caring for their disabled son. Michael stepped in and sent the Ace Handyman Services team over to Rich's house that day to help repair the storm damage.

Another Ace associate, Betty Stanbaugh, had significant water damage to her home, including the loss of her porch and carport. Betty did not have a place to live, and she was taking care of her mother. They desperately needed a place to live. Michael had a solution.

"When we say we treat our employees like family, my father offered up his guest house as a place for Betty and her family to stay while they looked for permanent housing," said Michael.

"The family was out of town. They came back into town to open the place up for us," said Betty. "I came home from work, and they even put food in the fridge for me."

And right about the time Betty was leaving the guest house, another Ace associate, Rodney McIntire, also found himself without a place to live. The place he was renting also had significant flood damage. So Michael helped move him into the guest house next.

"Being part of a committed family means not only taking care of those we serve, but also being there for each other in our greatest time of need," said Michael. "And that is exactly what our team did in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian."