'Blessed to be a Pirate': Matanzas JROTC cadets help clean out homes in Flagler Beach

When Matanzas JROTC cadets showed up at Matanzas High School at 8 a.m., they were expecting a group of six to 10 students.

Intent on helping an MHS teacher clean up her parents’ home following the destruction of Hurricane Irma, the cadets were prepared to hop into a 10-passenger van before heading over to Flagler Beach.

They ended up having to take a school bus.

On Friday, Sept. 15, 32 cadets helped Matanzas biology teacher Christine Brink clean out her parents’ damaged home, located at 309 Cypress St. The cadets also helped clean out several other houses in Flagler Beach.

“We love doing stuff like this, especially since it’s one of our own,” Matanzas senior and JROTC Staff Sgt. Charlie Wicker said. “We see her all the time. We talk to her all the time. She’s super kind to us. So, we love any opportunity to help out like this. Not only for teachers, but for the community as well.”

The cadets helped Brink pick up debris and move boxes and furniture, and they even got to try their hand at demolition. About 2 feet of water got into the home, Brink said. Some of the walls had to be removed as a result of the damage. So, armed with sharp iron tools, several cadets got to work tearing up the walls from the ground up.

“It just shows that we have a good number of cadets,” Wicker said. “It gives us a little window into the future of JROTC.”

Brink was grateful for the help.

“The help has just been wonderful and overwhelming,” she said. “I’m truly blessed to be a Pirate.”