Plymouth Harbor residents raise more than $300,000 to help its employees

For the first time since living at Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay, Resident Marie Belcher evacuated with other residents and staff during Hurricane Helene. 

As an artist, Belcher was saddened to hear the art room on the ground floor was totaled after the storm. Thinking that her most recent painting was gone with it, an employee who stayed at Plymouth Harbor during the hurricane was able to cure her disappointment. 

While exploring the campus that was flooded with 4 feet of water, the employee opened the door to the art room and saw Belcher's half-done painting of a bird floating by. Belcher was taken by surprise when the staff member was thoughtful enough to grab it and return it to her safely. 

 "That is who our team members are," said Belcher. "We have an unbelievably positive relationship with them because they care for us. It is so important that we support them."

Experiences such as Belcher's had residents at Plymouth Harbor grateful for its hardworking and attentive staff. 

So, when CEO Jeff Weatherhead sent a letter to residents following Hurricane Helene letting them know of some of the issues employees were dealing with after the storm, the residents answered, with 130 residents donating $338,000 to the community's Employee Hardship Fund. Following the donations (and Hurricane Milton), Weatherhead received 68 applications for assistance.

"Charity begins at home," said Resident Tom Landers. "For most of us, this is our last home and our staff is like family. So we, the community, have to take care of family."

In the seven years of living in Sarasota, Hurricane Milton was the first time the weather seriously affected receptionist Helen Dailey's livelihood.

The 120 mph winds of Hurricane Milton took her roof and carport. A couple of weeks later, she continues to find structural damage in her house, such as the doors of her manufactured home starting to drag, Tarps also now hang over her two front rooms where the roof used to be. 

Dailey had no choice but to turn to Plymouth Harbor for help.

"Plymouth Harbor really came through," said Dailey. "This is the best place I've ever worked. The residents do care for their employees."

HR recruiter Taylor Ormrod spent most of her workday urging staff like Dailey to apply for the fund after hearing their heartbreaking stories. She would fill out forms for them even if they were too humble to ask for help. 

Though she was constantly organizing others to get relief, Ormrod didn't think about herself. 

During Milton, she had to be rescued by a FEMA lifeboat after evacuating to intense flooding. When she got back to Sarasota, the storm had damaged the fence of her new home, along with losing her shed and all appliances in her backyard. 

When Vice President of Team Member Relations Anthony Baffo encouraged to apply to the fund herself, Ormrod was taken aback. He said it was essential to provide relief for all employees even if they had been there for a few months like Ormrod.

Baffo was astounded at the outpouring of support from residents. He said it was heartwarming to see the bond the residents have with the staff. 

"Over $300,000 is a lot of money," said Baffo. "Here is a group of residents that have equaled or surpassed what a lot of big community foundations have done. The people here at Plymouth Harbor work hard to take care of the residents. It is amazing that they stepped in to take care of the staff as well."

This story has been updated to correct Plymouth Harbor's name and clarify that resident donations were received before employee applications for assistance.