TAMPA, Fla. — With hundreds of homes still being repaired following last year’s hurricanes, others are working to replace everything that was lost inside their homes.
That’s where the Wills Way Foundation comes in. The foundation is doing what it can to support recovery efforts by getting back to the basics.
Moving into a new home is always exciting, but this won't be your typical move-in for one local family.
Instead, the furniture in a truck is part of Will Smith’s unique mission.
He is refurnishing the Taylor family’s entire home after they lost their belongings during the hurricanes.
"The children don’t have to sleep on the floor anymore, the parents don’t," Smith said. "They have a nice sectional couch for the family to congregate around and enjoy their evening together and be able to eat here at home, finally.”
Smith is the Founder of the Wills Way Foundation. He helps underprivileged children and young adults reach their dreams of being in the aviation industry.
But he says the back-to-back hurricanes sparked his desire to do this.
“It took a community to help make this happen, and we want to continue this,” he says.
Funds were raised through a gala the foundation hosted last month. They raised enough money to help three families.
The Taylor’s are one of three families receiving help, but Smith says there’s still more that needs to be done.
“We just need the community to get together and help us," he said. "We need to get them somewhere where they’re living where they don’t have to worry about mold, rats and infestations and just unhealthy living conditions."
He says the Taylor family’s home received several feet of water.
Now, Smith's hope is this place will feel like a home again, with new furniture in place. “There’s a lot of people in need, and we’re going to keep on doing it until we can help as many people as we can.”
The Taylor family will receive this surprise over the weekend.
