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DFC Community Ambassador Ike Alama-
Francis puts his professional football training
skills to work to move pallets of bottled water
in Immokalee.

Pictured from left to right Patricia Jones, Math Coach at Lely Elementary; Drug Free Collier team
members Ana DeMercurio, Lisa Gruenloh and David Jones; Everglades City School Principal Jim Ragusa;
and DFC team members Ike Alama-Francis and Guy Blanchette.

Drug Free Collier inspired by Hurricane Irma
victims and volunteers

T he team at Drug Free Collier (DFC) had the victims he and team members delivered meals to in Everglades

opportunity to support Hurricane Irma recovery City, many of whom lost everything.
efforts throughout Collier County, making good use
“One of the residents I met told me, ‘My house used to be
there and my job used to be over there. I don’t have either any
of the time their office had no power, and beyond.
“All of our team members had some damage to their more,’” Jones said. “I find myself complaining about some of
homes and trees, but nothing like the devastation we saw when the smallest things sometimes, while this lady doesn’t know
volunteering out in Immokalee and Everglades City, and even where her next dollar is coming from. That really had an effect
among homes in our own neighborhoods,” Guy Blanchette, on me. My life is good. I never want to complain ever again,
Drug Free Collier CEO, said. “We all felt very grateful, and about anything.”
our entire staff wanted to get out and help people who weren’t DFC Community Ambassador Ike Alama-Francis, also a
as fortunate. We serve together all the time, but volunteering retired NFL player, had a similar reaction to his experience in
in this way was a very meaningful bonding experience for us Everglades City.
as a team.” “What surprised me most was the spirit of these people.
While many of the team members have lived in Florida for They are so resilient,” Alama-Francis said. “Through everything
many years and aren’t new to hurricanes, retired NFL player they are going through they were still smiling and believed
and Drug Free Collier Community Ambassador David Jones everything was going to be okay. It was a humbling experience.
had never experienced the tremendous stress of going through The experience has made me reflect on my own life and how
a hurricane and the destruction it leaves behind. What Jones grateful I am for everything I have.”
found even more compelling was the response by the hurricane The DFC team was equally inspired by the volunteers

78 Life in Naples | November 2017