Okeechobee Together is a Facebook-based group operating solely to match one or more neighbors with a neighbor in need. Many times, what might seem like a mountain to one person might be a mole hill to another. Though not a non-profit, they are also not “for” profit. Okeechobee Together Facebook
The group was founded by Daniel Doyon, who explained he started the group because he noticed a lot of people needing help with things that, to the right person, might be simply resolved. He said, “Sometimes, it’s just connecting the need with the right person.”
The Okeechobee Together website and Facebook page make it easy to achieve this. Anyone needing help can submit their need, and hopefully, a neighbor will read it and feel led to meet that need.
Doyon said the group started about six months ago, and since then have been able to solve many problems.
One of the first requests was from a single mom of three kids. The air conditioning in their home stopped working, and she did not have the funds to fix it. Doyon put the problem in front of his readers, and within an hour, a local ac company was heading to her home to evaluate the problem. He figured out that it would be faster and easier to replace the unit she had with another old unit he already had. “That was when it really sparked, and I thought, you know. This can really help people,” said Doyon.
Soon, he was getting messaged by people who needed help with yard work, with trees, with cleanup, etc.
They helped a man who lost his leg when the e-bike he was riding was hit by a truck.
One woman had a very large entertainment center she needed removed from her home. She was willing to give it away, if someone would just come get it. That need was met.
Another request involved helping a senior apartment complex with a garden project. They needed help planting cucumbers, okra, etc. Multiple volunteers took care of that. One volunteer even purchased mulch and marigolds for the project. In the same senior apartment complex, one woman asked if the group would be willing to move a load of bricks that she had at her former home. She wanted to use the bricks to build a fire pit, so the residents could gather around it on cool nights or just use it as a place for social activities.
Some of the local lawn care companies have joined the group, helping single moms and elderly people, who struggle to keep up with their yards’ demands.
They don’t have the same volunteers for every project, but so far, Doyon has participated in each one. “I try to coordinate everyone until we get to the point where we can do it all through the website. I’m thankful for the system we run on. It helps keep everything coordinated and everyone on task.”
Doyon is a single dad with five children. His son Sebastian and his daughter Emily have been big helps on some of the projects.
Recently, the group began taking on “clients” who need regular lawn maintenance but can’t afford to pay the going rate. The plan is to offer basic lawn help for seniors, veterans, fixed-income residents, single parents, and neighbors going through a hard time. Some people can pay. Some people can pay a little. Some people need help. And some people may want to help "cover the gap.”
The link for this is located here: Okeechobee Together lawn help
When asked how people can request help or volunteer to help someone else, Doyon explained that the easiest way is to click on the blue link in any of the posts on the Okeechobee Together Facebook page. “It’s real simple, you will click on ‘I need help’ or ‘I want to help.’” Okeechobee Together
Doyon said he is grateful to all the volunteers and mentioned several who have gone above and beyond. Uriel Manzone and Victor Pineda with Florida Cooling, James Warren Smith, Kristin Dorrance, Eric with V&Z, Daron Jones with Jones Equipment Rental.
“Okeechobee Together is really a neighbors helping neighbors system,” said Doyon. “The goal is to connect local needs with people, volunteers, and local businesses willing to help. My role is to organize and coordinate those needs, work behind the scenes to bring the right people together and jump in wherever I’m needed.”
