Siesta Key
Lido Key
Clearwater Beach
Initial Efforts
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, the Vunique Vacations team knew they had to do something to help their Florida neighbors. The storm’s path originally headed straight towards Vunique’s home base in the Tampa Bay area changed directions at the last minute, leaving devastation in its wake for those in Sanibel Island, Fort Myers Beach, and the surrounding areas to our South. The country watched as first responders did everything that they could to get people to safety, and the Department of Transportation and Florida Power and Light, among other entities, began debris cleanup, re-established infrastructures, and offered support to those who were left with nothing.
Just days after Hurricane Ian made landfall, fuel and supplies were very hard to come by for most people. In an effort to show support, Vunique partnered with Black Fin Fuels, Eason Builder Group, and CASTO to provide fuel and supplies to the Charlotte County Fire & EMS first responders and the relief effort in Charlotte and Lee Counties. With fuel supplies limited but very needed, together with additional donations from the community, these partners delivered 2,800 gallons of rec90 non-ethanol fuel. This effort allowed first responders to fuel their personal vehicles, and replenish their personal gas cans for their home generators that were supporting their families, so they could continue to report for duty knowing their families were safe. Along with the fuel, Vunique and its partners also provided supplies for the first responders, and the relief effort further South that included: water, non-perishable food items, toys, clothes, diapers, and more.
Vunique’s Giveaway
As the holidays approached, those impacted by the Hurricane remained on everyone’s minds. Family gatherings would look very different this year with so many displaced from their homes. Watching the news, and hearing the ongoing efforts of so many still trying to recover, an idea sprung to life – give away a stay at a Vunique Vacations home for the holidays! It only felt right to award it to a local hero whose positive impact was felt by everyone they encountered, despite what might have been going on in their own personal lives simultaneously. Because of the effort of so many, and their ability to put everyone else’s needs first during such a tumultuous time, the nominations flowed in for those who garnered admiration from their colleagues and/or the citizens they encountered during the relief effort. What was supposed to be a single-home giveaway, quickly became a two-home giveaway in the wake of such heartwarming and admirable stories.
Our selected winners were Bryan Swindell from Florida Power & Light and Sergeant Jacob Lopez from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Introducing, Our Winners
Sergeant Jacob Lopez
Sergeant Lopez was nominated due to the positive attitude that he maintained throughout the Hurricane cleanup, despite the catastrophic damage that his own home suffered and the personal loss he experienced as a result. This was the largest recovery response that the Lee County Sheriff’s Office has responded to and the damage was the worst they had seen in this large of an area, but Sergeant Lopez and the Sheriff’s office responded to over 4,800 well-being checks and completed over 1,200 rescues. More specifically, in the immediate aftermath of the storm, Sgt. Lopez assisted with disaster cleanup and critical home repairs before moving on to delivering food and supplies to areas and deputies in need. He also worked on a special detail that allowed for the opening of the Fort Myers Bridge to major companies, clean-up crews, and residents. He is now assigned to the North Fort Myers shelter, assisting with security.
Sgt. Lopez credits the determination and dedication of his fellow brothers and sisters in law enforcement as the reason that he was able to persevere in assisting others, while his own home and family were also directly impacted. Every role during this time was critical, and the sense of comradery and togetherness helped everyone continue working and keeping a positive attitude in the face of devastation.
Sgt. Lopez has invited his family and co-workers who are available to join him in his stay with Vunique Vacations. His sister and brother-in-law whom the storm also displaced his partner, and her parents also joined him for his stay to celebrate a bit of normalcy this holiday season.
Bryan Swindell
Bryan Swindell is a member of Florida Power & Light. He and his unit began preparing for the storm the week before it hit when it was apparent there would be damage. When the storm hit, he remained engaged for 72 hours, nonstop, before switching to a 16-hours on, 8-hours off month-long schedule. His first hot meal was provided to him by a community member whose power he single-handedly restored. Bryan credits his perseverance during this time to the positive attitude of the community and his military bearing reminding him of the Air Force core values, Integrity, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do. Bryan responded to countless calls during the power restoration efforts and restored power to a substantial number of homes and customers. During his stay, Bryan took the time to relax, and spend time with family and friends after a long year.
This Christmas was especially significant to the Swindell family because it was the first time Bryan has been home to celebrate in 5 years. In fact, he is set to deploy again in just a few months for another year with his military unit. For the past 18 years, Bryan’s family has had a gathering for anyone who either doesn’t have a place to go or just wants to have a good time. He and his family believe that everyone deserves to feel appreciated and loved this time of year, and they were thankful that they could share their Vunique Vacations experience with those that matter most.
Our winners were just two of countless local heroes who assisted in Hurricane Ian’s cleanup and rescue efforts. Vunique Vacations was thrilled to be able to provide a central gathering place for these families this holiday season, at a time when uncertainty loomed. We are also thrilled to be able to provide 5 other nominees for our Christmas Giveaway with Wal-Mart Gift Cards in lieu of not receiving the home for the holiday prize. Our commitment to our community, both locally, and throughout the Gulf Coast of Florida take high priority at Vunique Vacations. It is always our goal to be a ‘good neighbor’ and to always support our community, its businesses, and most of all its people. We are so thankful that these nominees accepted their award and enjoyed their holiday stay in Siesta Key. We hope this small gesture made even a fraction of the impact on their lives as they made on so many others’ lives this year during such a tough time. Vunique Vacations wants to thank all of the first responders, DOT, FPL, Government Agencies, Non-Profits, Small Businesses, and everyone that came together in the wake of Hurricane Ian. It was a truly beautiful representation of humanity and what we are capable of as a community, and we couldn’t be more thankful for the small part we were able to play in that effort.
