" Neighbors helping neighbors ."
Neighbors helping neighbors . It ’ s what connects and bonds us throughout this journey of shared human experience . While helping neighbors in times of trouble is one of the South ’ s many charms , The Sonder Project has made “ Neighbors Helping Neighbors ” its mantra and raised the bar , by far . The word “ sonder ” originates from the realization that everyone has a story – equally vivid , complex , and unique – both individually and alongside his neighbor . Only sometimes our stories hit a bump in the road and need a neighborly boost . So in 2014 , a handful of South Walton entrepreneurs joined forces and hearts to help better its neighbors ’ individual stories , improve their local community , and according to co-founder Ashley Horsley , just simply “ do some good in the world .” Out of this organic goal to fight hunger and poverty , the non-profit Sonder Project organization was born . Driving to bring awareness to food security , clean water , and education , The Sonder Project works tirelessly to build community and school gardens and teaches its neighbors in need the sustainability and partnership tools required to continue its efforts successfully . Partnering with 360 Blue , the 30A company , and YOLO Board , this local labor of love even went global , turning international strangers into neighbors . Going as far as West Africa ’ s impoverished Burkina Faso to “ do some good ,” they built the community ’ s first school , supplied irrigation and dug wells for clean drinking water , and built gardens providing sustainable food sources for its newfound neighbors . Just good people doing good things , both near and far .
But on October 10 , 2018 , the need was near . When Hurricane Michael , the most powerful Category 4 storm ever to hit the Florida Panhandle , ravaged the lives and homes of our immediate neighbors along the Gulf Coast , the unimaginable devastation left thousands of people without access to food , water , or housing . The deadly winds and rain trapped many residents inside their homes as their roofs were ripped off , their trees were snapped crushing cars and structures , their homes were destroyed , and their communities were rendered unrecognizable around them . Survivors described seeing walls of white outside their windows while fighting to hold doors closed in the face of the relentless wind . The monster storm left nearly 140,000 people without power and did an estimated $ 4.9 billion in
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