Volunteers team up to help Tampa Bay community through Instagram group chat

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A group of volunteers that were brought together through social media have been helping people with storm clean up in Tampa Bay.

These individuals are part of an Instagram group chat named ‘Hurricane Helene Warriors’, which was started by a small group of friends.

“We need to be boots on the ground, helping out the community,” Taylor Parker said. “Something that we have always had a love for is love for the community. However we can give back to the place we call home, we want to do that.”

On Friday, Parker, her best friend Kayla Jones and several other volunteers traveled to the Bay Crest Park neighborhood to help residents clear out their homes after they were flooded.

“It’s overwhelming,” Jones said. “We want to give people hope.”

Volunteers helped Hillsborough County Resident Becky Ritz load up several items into a storage pod.

“A day ago, I’m thinking what am I going to do? I have all this heavy furniture to get out and it’s just me,” she said. “These people, they’re making a difference.”

After helping Ritz, the group drove over to help Veteran Stephen Robbins take out water damaged furniture and dry wall.

“Oh, it gives me hope for humanity,” he said. ” It’s great.

If you would like to be added to the Hurricane Helene Warrior’s group chat on Instagram, you can message Taylor Parker or Kayla Jones through their profiles.

The group also has a clothing donation drop-off located at LendU Mortgage in Tampa located at 1550 W Cleveland St.

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