A Home for the Holidays Giveaway

Update 12.16.22

We are excited to announce the selected winners for our A Home for the Holidays Giveaway! We want to thank everyone who submitted a nomination. The stories we read moved us such that we decided to expand the giveaway to TWO winners! The damage Hurricane Ian caused was unexpected and we were fortunate to have experienced a lesser impact in the Sarasota area. Our commitment to serving our community not only extends locally but state-wide, which is why we knew when we announced this giveaway, we wanted the homes to go to those who had acted selflessly in the wake of personal tragedy. Thank you to all those involved in the cleanup and restoration of the areas most impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Jacob Lopez – Lee County Sheriff’s Office

jacob lopez

As with many law enforcement officers, Sergeant Lopez was on the frontlines of first responders in the wake of Hurricane Ian. 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 will also join him for his stay to celebrate a bit of normalcy this holiday season.

Bryan Swindell – Florida Power & Light (FPL)

swindell family

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. He says his first hot meal was provided to him by a community member whose power he singlehandedly restored. He 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 equally as many customers if not more. He is hoping to take this time to relax. and spend time with family and friends after a long year

This Christmas is especially significant to the Swindell family because it is 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 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.