Braden River High JROTC cadets volunteer for Habitat for Humanity

As Diego Valerio was installing a dryer in the back of a Bradenton home, his fellow JROTC Cadets Meyli Rojas and Val Amezquita were painting the back exterior of the home.

At the same time, Cadet Priscilla Luciano was working on a fence in the front yard while Cadet Mystique Quinones painted the front door. 

Other Braden River High JROTC cadets were all around the Manatee County Habitat for Humanity property Nov. 20, completing various tasks to help the home be ready in time for its new owners to move in by Christmas.

At the end of the four-hour shift, the tired cadets left with paint on their shirts and in their hair, and smiles on their fades.

Over three days, 46 cadets were performing volunteer work for Manatee County Habitat for Humanity as part of a service project for this school year. 

The JROTC program previously had an annual partnership with Manatee County Habitat for Humanity, but the COVID-19 pandemic halted that partnership. Now the cadets have chosen to support Habitat for Humanity once again, said Company Commander Yham Alvarez, a senior. 

“This gives us an opportunity to get involved with their community,” said Company Commander Joshua Bolanos, also a senior. “It also promotes hard work, dedication and even doing the stuff that most people don’t want to do, which is part of being a leader.”

The Bradenton home originally was built for a Manatee County Habitat for Humanity client. The client has been able to move out of the home, so Pierre Dagenais, the construction supervisor for the Habitat project, said the home has become a part of the nonprofit’s Critical Home Repair Program. 

“This program is all about lifting up the community,” Dagenais said. “The more people do better, the better the community is.”

After three hurricanes this year and going through Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricane Irma in 2017, Alvarez and Bolanos said they know how important it is to support the community. 

“I was in elementary school during Hurricane Irma, and the whole backyard of our house pretty much got destroyed. If we had the help like what we’re doing here, it would have meant a lot,” Bolanos said. 

Dagenais said the goal is to have new homeowners move in by Christmas so they can enjoy the holidays. 

Dagenais said the refurbishment of the home wouldn’t be possible without the help of volunteers, including the Braden River High School JROTC cadets. He described the cadets as polite, courteous and willing to learn.

“They take the task and put a good effort into it and learn how to do it right,” Dagenais said. 

The project was beneficial for all involved, Dagenais said. The volunteer hours keep the costs down because the nonprofit doesn't need to hire people for installations and repairs. The cadets benefit by learning life skills they could apply in the future. The new homeowners obviously benefit by enjoying a new home. 

“It’s a wonderful program where they can come and donate their time,” Dagenais said. “Money you can always replace, but time you’ll never replace. That’s why time is so valuable, and we appreciate it so much.” 

The cadets helped with painting, installing appliances, hanging doors, and household repairs.

They kept crossing off tasks listed on a long to-do list that hung on the fridge. 

Alvarez said he learned how to install a dishwasher while Bolanos learned about painting patterns. 

Alvarez and Bolanos said they wished the best for the homeowners and also hope the new occupants would appreciate the hard work the volunteers’ put in to make the home look brand new.