AllPeopleBeHappy and the PGBS continue hurricane relief and recovery initiatives

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, which devastated Petersfield and surrounding communities, AllPeopleBeHappy—with the generous support of so many individuals and organizations across our network—responded swiftly with emergency relief, restoring access to clean water, internet connectivity, health supplies, and rebuilding critical community infrastructure, including the local community center.

As the community stabilizes, Phase Two shifts from survival to recovery and resilience, with a focused investment in education, youth engagement, and community healing. This project helps the PGBS implement phase two and recognizes that meaningful recovery depends on children returning to school and young people being safely and positively engaged, allowing families the time and emotional space to rebuild homes and livelihoods while addressing the collective trauma left by the storm. Through targeted support for reopening early childhood institutions, creating safe recreational and learning spaces, providing educational materials, staffing after-school and evening programs, and launching a revitalized membership drive at the Petersfield-based PGBS, this initiative re-anchors education and community life as the foundation for long-term recovery. Phase Two ensures that young people are learning, playing, and healing, so the entire community can move forward together.

Some specifics of the recovery plan include: 

• Repairing local schools: the PGBS will support efforts to reopen local schools as soon as possible so kids can go back to school and adults can have more time to focus on other areas of recovery. 
• Investing in educational materials for the PGBS community center: The goal is to create a space for kids and youth to gather in the evenings. This helps drive more people to the PGBS, which will boost membership and community involvement, while replacing important toys and games and spreading joy for kids who have lost so much. The PGBS will offer paid support to the community members who manage the after school programming and game nights and manage the aspects of the recovery plan. This will create important economic opportunities and also help identify future PGBS leaders. 
• Generating interest in PGBS membership: Through a membership drive, the PGBS will waive all membership fees for one year. The hope is to triple membership (which is currently around 30), and be a tool to show to people how important the PGBS is for the wellbeing of the community. 

Success for this project will look like local schools reopened by March, total PGBS membership of 100 people by the end of 2026, and a PGBS leadership team that feels valued and motivated to continue their leadership functions necessary for the organization to thrive.