Since Hurricane Helene struck the coast, Dennis Hartin of HUB International has taken on a pivotal role, leading more than 50 volunteers every weekend in disaster relief efforts. As a member of the Helping Hands group, organized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hartin helps provide free disaster recovery services through local volunteers.
Throughout the impacted regions—extending all the way to North Carolina—volunteers in bright yellow shirts have become a familiar sight. With 56,000 cases of assistance opened and 40,000 still active, the scale of the recovery remains immense. Hartin’s group has expanded its efforts by partnering with the United Cajun Navy (UCN), sharing a joint command post and distribution point at the Hernando Beach VFW.
Coordinating Relief Through Crisis Cleanup
These volunteer teams have joined Crisis Cleanup, an online platform that connects storm victims with relief organizations. When individuals arrive at a command post seeking help, volunteers enter their request as a work order into Crisis Cleanup’s system. This platform makes the order visible to local groups capable of responding, ensuring tasks are efficiently distributed.
According to CrisisCleanup.org, over 2,500 volunteer organizations have collectively cleaned more than 80,000 homes, saving disaster survivors nearly $47,000 per day in recovery costs. In Hernando County, local Facebook-based volunteer groups such as Spring Hill Neighbors and Weeki Wachee Forum have also adopted Crisis Cleanup to coordinate their activities.
Leading with Hope and Purpose
Service has always been central to Dennis Hartin’s life and career. Reflecting on his work, Hartin shared:
“We provide something as simple as hope and help give people direction when they feel overwhelmed by the devastation. I firmly believe that if you’ve been blessed, you have an obligation to give back to your community. The teams I work with are incredible people with big hearts and an amazing ability to get things done.”
In a time marked by division, it’s heartening to witness selfless volunteers coming together for the sole purpose of helping others.
Paying It Forward
Church member and local resident William Cooper remarked on the community’s generosity:
“Some people want to donate money or tip us for the help,” he said. “But we won’t take it—we just ask them to pay it forward.”
How to Get Involved
If you or someone you know needs assistance, or if you’d like to volunteer, you can contact Crisis Cleanup at 844-965-1386 or visit CrisisCleanup.org.
By organizing volunteers, forming key partnerships, and leveraging technology, people like Dennis Hartin and his team are restoring not just homes—but hope—in the wake of disaster.
