HCU Student Athletes Join Forces to Restore Storm Damaged Home

When the destructive winds and rains from the recent derecho in May and Hurricane Beryl hit the Houston area, Vicki Fowler's home sustained extensive damage. The experience left her distraught and shaken. The local art teacher recalls praying and looking up at the clouds and having an overwhelming sense that God would provide for her and her daughter.

The answer to her prayers came in the form of The Restoration Team, a Houston-based home repair and disaster response nonprofit that solicited volunteers in collaboration with community partners KPRC 2 Community,Houston Christian University (HCU), Exclusive Furniture and Energy Transfer to restore her home.

Steve Moniaci, HCU Director of Athletics, played a key role in coordinating a team of volunteers from HCU's athletic teams who sacrificed their time during the first week of classes to lend a hand to the community partnership project.

"Part of our mission in our athletic department is public service. Each of our student athletes commits time every year to service projects within our neighborhood and across the city. This was very much an extension of that effort. The athletes who helped were very glad to get the chance to do so," said Moniaci.

The team of student-athletes braved Houston's sweltering temperatures, brandishing paint scrapers, tape and brushes to freshen the exterior of the family's storm-ravaged home, leaving it in better condition than they found it.

HCU student, Katcher Halligan, a member of the Husky baseball team, called it a blessing to take part in the community partnership project.

"We're blessed to be athletes here and be able to help people physically, so I think it's just a good thing for us to do to help somebody out that's had some misfortune in their life," he said.

Two Husky softball team members, who volunteered their time, saw the effort as an opportunity to "serve others" and "show people who we are and [what] our university represents."

Cary Delmark, Assistant Vice President of Marketing at HCU, joined the students as a volunteer and embraced the chance to model God's love.

"This homeowner was simply overwhelmed with what happened to her house [and] sometimes we just need to help each other out, which is part of God's plan for us," said Delmark.

Fowler was moved by the team of volunteers' efforts.

"Thank you so much. I feel really loved and I feel cared for, this feels like Christmas," said the Houston art teacher.

For information on volunteer opportunities, visit therestorationteam.org.