Restoring Beauty, Dignity, and Hope For Melissa

How One Service Project Helped Lift a Burden

Sometimes love looks like a conversation, a prayer, or a listening ear. Other times, it looks like people showing up with work gloves, lawn equipment, and a willingness to serve.

This summer, that kind of love showed up at the home of Melissa, a Love INC Guest who was referred to the ministry through the City of Tampa.

Melissa had experienced a significant change in her household circumstances that reduced some of the support she had previously relied upon. As financial pressures increased, maintaining her home became more difficult. Her once-beautiful landscape became overtaken by tall grass, weeds, overgrown shrubbery, and debris. She also needed help clearing the alley area and addressing portions of her gate.

Without the proper equipment or discretionary income to hire professional lawn care, the work became more than Melissa could reasonably manage. After code enforcement contacted her regarding the condition of the property, the need became even more pressing.

But Melissa did not have to address it alone.

The opportunity for support began through Jerry Hansen with Paint Your Heart Out, who helped identify the need for yard assistance. Love INC volunteer TeRay Maye then helped make the connection with NaTasha Goodwin and the SOCOM Teen Leadership Camp team.

From there, Matt Davis, Love INC’s Church Relations and Community Outreach Manager, helped move the project from connection to action—confirming the need, communicating with Melissa and NaTasha, coordinating logistics, and helping prepare for the service project.

 

During the SOCOM Teen Leadership Camp orientation in July, approximately 14 rising high school student leaders, together with SOCOM staff, adult chaperones, and Love INC support, arrived ready to work.

And work they did.

The team mowed grass, pulled weeds, trimmed overgrown bushes and shrubbery, removed debris, cleaned portions of the property, and tackled other outdoor needs. Matt joined the team on-site as well, working alongside the students and adult leaders.

After approximately an hour and a half, Florida’s summer weather brought the work to an unexpected stop. Inclement weather forced the team to leave before everything could be completed.

They could have considered the service project finished.

Instead, they came back.

In early August, members of the SOCOM team returned to Melissa’s home to complete what they had started. Across the two service days, approximately five adults also participated alongside the students, including SOCOM staff and chaperones and Love INC support.

The returning team continued mowing, weed removal, debris cleanup, yard beautification, and light work around the fence and gate. Matt returned as well, continuing to support the project through completion.

The transformation was noticeable—and Melissa was grateful.

 

“Everything looks nice. They cleaned out there so good and did an awesome job. They were awesome, they were great at what they did, and got right to the job,” Melissa shared.

For Melissa, what happened was about more than curb appeal. A burden that had become increasingly difficult to manage was lifted through the generosity of people willing to give their time, energy, equipment, and care.

For the young leaders, the experience offered its own lesson in leadership: recognizing a need, serving alongside others, and following through even when circumstances interrupt the original plan.

Perhaps the most beautiful part of this Love Story is that no single person made it happen.

A community partner helped identify an opportunity. A loving volunteer made a connection. Love INC coordinated the moving pieces. SOCOM leaders opened the door for service. Young people showed up ready to work. And when the rain interrupted their plans, the team returned to finish what they started.

Together, they helped restore more than a yard.

They helped restore beauty, dignity, encouragement, and peace of mind to a neighbor who needed a helping hand.

That is Love INC in action—connecting caring people, mobilizing community resources, and transforming individual acts of compassion into meaningful support for our neighbors.

Special thanks to Jerry Hansen and Paint Your Heart Out for helping identify the opportunity; Love INC volunteer TeRae Maye for helping make the SOCOM connection; NaTasha Goodwin and the SOCOM Teen Leadership Camp staff and chaperones; and the rising student leaders who gave their time and energy to love a neighbor well.