Sylvia’s North St. Louis home holds her family’s past and future. It’s a house her parents gave her, a place where she carries childhood memories, and the home she plans to pass down to the next generation.
Before it was Sylvia’s home, it was a house where the neighborhood came together. Sylvia remembers it as the hangout spot when she was younger. It was full of people, music, and shared memories. Her parents later bought the house, and her father started a church across the street.
Then, on May 16, 2025, an EF-3 tornado ripped through the St. Louis region, including Sylvia’s neighborhood. Her home was heavily damaged. The roof was partially ripped open, gutters hung from the side of the house, trees snapped, and windows shattered. Rainwater poured through the damaged roof, causing extensive water damage inside. Soon after, animals began finding their way into the walls, chimney, and basement.
Sylvia has lived in the home for more than 60 years and did not have insurance when the tornado struck. In a single afternoon, the home she had loved for most of her life was nearly taken from her.
But the property holds memories that make it irreplaceable. In the yard, Sylvia spent her summers playing around the garden her dad made. Inside, every room carries reminders of her parents and the neighborhood that raised her. Despite the damage, Sylvia never questioned whether she wanted to stay. She would rather deal with the damage than abandon the neighborhood and start over.
As POWERS Insurance celebrates its 35th anniversary, our team wanted to make a lasting impact in the community. When we met Sylvia and learned what her house represented to her family, we knew restoring it was a project we wanted to support. Helping restore Sylvia’s house meant helping her remain in the neighborhood and community where she has built her life.
So far, we’ve helped repair Sylvia’s roof, removed several large trees from the yard, patched holes in the walls, installed new drywall and flooring, replaced the washer and dryer, and installed a new A/C unit. In the final phase of the project, 25-30 volunteers will help complete the work by painting, cleaning up the yard, and bringing life back to her garden.
Our mission is to honor Sylvia’s connection to the St. Louis neighborhood and help preserve a home that can continue carrying her family’s story for generations to come.
