The delivery men looked familiar.
There, wearing their Dolphins jerseys, were Nate Garner, No. 75, and Tyrone Culver, No. 29, carrying furniture from Rooms To Go into Leslye Leas newly renovated home.
More than a dozen volunteers from the Dolphins Special Teams fan-based volunteer corps unloaded boxes loaded with new bedding, bathroom towels, shower curtains and bath accessories. New dishes, knives, flatware, drinking glasses and a crock pot were piled high on the new kitchen counter.
Employees from Dade Paper were measuring and hanging new window treatments. Workers from Best Buy showed up with two flat screen televisions.
All I expected was a little assistance, but this is a miracle, said Lea. Its better than winning the lottery. Ill have to pinch myself in the morning to make sure Im not just dreaming.
Lea, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Scotland, Guantanamo Bay and Texas as a disbursement clerk, returned home to Hollywood several years ago to find the family home she shares with her mother Evelyn and daughter Ashley to be completely falling apart.
The roof eventually was filled with holes, some so large that she could see the sky from inside. The carpets, not changed in three decades, were wet and covered with mold. None of the two bathrooms worked the Leas relied on the kindness of neighbors for bathing and when nature called. Only one bedroom was livable and all three ladies slept there.
In November 2011, after being cited by Hollywood code compliance for exterior decay including a caved in roof over the front porch, Lea asked for help.
When I moved back things were old but I thought I could handle it, said Lea, 46. Then I was out of work and fixing things slowly put things out of control.
Rebuilding Together, a national non-profit dedicated to preserving affordable home ownership for the low income families, the elderly, disabled and veterans, responded.
The city of Hollywood referred us to Leslye for outstanding violations, said Sandra Einhorn, executive director of Rebuilding Together Broward chapter. Its what we do. We help.
Einhorn estimated the retail value of the project between $95,000 and $100,000. About 100 volunteers donated labor that added up to nearly 700 volunteer hours.
When we first came into the house, the condition was shocking, said project manager Matt Muldoon said, of JRW Construction.
Muldoon said about a dozen trades including plumbers, electricians and roofers attacked problems from the homes foundation slab to ceilings and beyond.
New floors, bathroom fixtures, kitchen cabinets and ceilings were installed. The entire interior was painted. The roof, including trusses, was removed and replaced.
On Thursday, Muldoon was on hand canvassing the house for things that still needed doing. New lighting fixtures and landscaping were tops on the list.
The project is coming to a close not a day too day too soon for Evelyn Lea, who is 79 and fighting colon cancer.
Ashley Lea, 16 and an aspiring Marine with the Stranahan High School Marine JROTC, said the difference in their lives is already like night and day.
Gone are the days when the Lea women had to place buckets all over the house on rainy days to collect the rain that poured into the house and destroyed their belongings.
We did what we had to do but now we are just grateful for everyone who helped and we will have our own rooms, Ashley said.
And Leslye Lea is working again, as an insurance billing clerk.
Thursdays final phase blitz was the second visit to the house by Dolphins players.
In December, Culver was joined by teammates Will Allen, Anthony Fasano, Dan Carpenter, Ryan Baker and Brian Hartline on pre-renovation demolition and painting teams.
We did a little of everything broke down walls with sledge hammers, carried boulders. Its been obviously a workout, but worth it, said Culver. A lot of us grew up in similar situations of need so when we got into the NFL we realized how precious it is to give.
















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