JUNE 9, 2020 [GREGORY, TEXAS] The Coastal Bend Disaster Recovery Group (CBDRG) and Cheniere Energy welcomed home Maria Moreno and her family during a home dedication ceremony. A blessing of the home, presentation of the keys, and a ribbon-cutting were performed to a crowd full of supporters.
When Moreno and her family evacuated to Cotulla during Hurricane Harvey, they were not sure what they would return to back home in Gregory. Trees fell on the roof and there was water damage all throughout the home. With nowhere else to stay, Moreno continued to live in her home. She shared that she almost lost hope, that was until she got in contact with CBDRG. “My case manager just kept telling me not to give up, keep up the faith and it’ll happen,” Moreno said.
The day she found out her case was approved she was in disbelief. She stayed in Corpus Christi while her three-bedroom, two-bathroom home was under construction. 1,015 days after her home of 45 years was destroyed by the storm, Moreno and her family are finally back home. “I just want to thank everybody who worked towards getting me into this house – CBDRG, the donors and volunteers, and especially my caseworker, she never left my side and that means so much to me and my family.”
“This home is a labor of love from Cheniere’s employees,” shared Steven Davidson, Community Affairs Manager at Cheniere Energy. It’s not simply an investment in brick and mortar, it’s an investment in the Moreno family who have overcome so much and whose love will make this house a home.”
Cheniere Energy partnered with CBDRG to rebuild four homes and complete eight repairs – Moreno’s home is the fourth home completed. In addition to Cheniere’s donation, CBDRG received funding from Global Giving and the United Methodist. Committee on Relief – Rio Texas Conference. Christian Public Services (CPS), and Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) provided the volunteers who built the three-bedroom, two-bathroom home and next week, the Coastal Bend Food Bank (CBFB) supplied the family with perishable and non-perishable food items.
“I want to thank CBDRG, Cheniere and a special thanks to the case managers who worked so hard to get Maria back home to Gregory,” shared Celestino Zambrano, Mayor of Gregory. “This long journey is now a reality and it is a good reminder that we need to stick together and take care of each other.”
CBDRG and its partners have completed 45 rebuilds and replaced 56 manufactured homes, making Moreno’s home number 101. Currently, there are houses under construction in Taft and Port Aransas and one to begin in Aransas Pass. The organization remains committed to three main goals as they continue working in the area: help families return their homes to a safe, secure, habitable condition, keep the community together and bring resiliency to the community.
Almost three years following the destruction of Hurricane Harvey, Coastal Bend residents and socially vulnerable families are still in need of assistance to recover from the devastation. CBDRG has been working diligently to bring families back home. The work is made possible thanks to the generous donors and hardworking volunteers. CBDRG continues to seek volunteers who range from skilled laborers to general help. To learn more about the CBDRG and to fill open volunteer positions, visit www.coastalbenddrg.org/volunteer.