Hurricane Maria Victims Find Refuge at Highland Village

In 2017, disaster struck Puerto Rico when Category 5 Hurricane Maria ravaged through the Caribbean island, leaving nothing but destruction in its wake. Regarded as the worst natural disaster to affect Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria robbed citizens of food, power, income, and worst of all, their homes.

Earlier this year, Jennifer Dranschak of Kasai North America, an auto manufacturing facility in Upper Sandusky, OH, had an idea to bring those displaced by Hurricane Maria to America. After hearing of Jennifer’s plans, Stephanie Fischer, general manager at Wallick, knew the perfect place for those families to live – Highland Village.

Highland Village is one of Wallick’s affordable apartment communities in Upper Sandusky, OH. Zac Brown, Highland’s community manager, worked diligently through language barriers to prepare and approve move-in applications for six families, who traveled from Puerto Rico to escape Hurricane Maria’s damage. Now, Highland Village is proud to have each of these families as residents.

Words can’t describe how grateful Highland’s newest residents are to have power, clean water, and a roof over their head. Jennifer continues to connect these families to employment opportunities and other resources.

This is one of many examples of how Wallick lives out its mission to open doors to homes, opportunities, and hope. Thank you to Stephanie, Zac, Jennifer and others for doing what you do best – helping others find a place to call home.