PUNTA GORDA — With so much destruction around the area from Hurricane Helene, the Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens crew knows many people could use a break.
The gardens, damaged by Helene’s wind and surge, is cleaned up and open for free through Oct. 25.
CEO Tanna Horner and her team spent days helping clean up the facility after the storm.
Then the team went to the neighborhood homes and businesses in Punta Gorda, offering assistance.
“I’ve witnessed a woman in the throes of battling a life-threatening cancer have what few items could be salvaged hauled away to a storage facility,” Horner said in a social media post to supporters.
The storm surge wrecked homes in Punta Gorda leaving some condemned. Horner shared stories of those who faced trauma including a local couple on a limited income who lost their retirement home.
Horner’s team helped a nurse and a single mother, who was so overwhelmed and unable to speak as her saturated belongings were taken to the curb for disposal.