DWC Marco Salutes Hurricane Ian Heroes

Marco Island’s own Deb Henry was recognized as one of Collier County’s game changers and Hurricane Ian Heroes. 

Since making Marco Island her full-time home in 2019, Deb Henry has demonstrated a deep commitment to her community by giving of herself to a variety of causes and organizations and motivating others to do likewise.

Deb is not someone who delegates and sits back. She is someone who does! A day after Hurricane Ian, Deb Henry organized housing for six displaced Isles of Capri families in her own and several other rental properties on Marco Island. She also hosted neighbors (who had flooding in their homes) into her own home for a week. 

After assessing storm damage and resultant needs on Isles of Capri, she provided appliances for four homes, purchased and delivered 500 sheets of drywall and rounded up clothes, household goods and toys, including bicycles, for many households. Recognizing that recovery is a long process and that kindness is just as important as generosity, she continued outreach. On Thanksgiving, she organized and provided dinner to 100 people on the Isles.

Her extraordinary personal efforts throughout the Hurricane Ian recovery are just one of many ways in which Deb has demonstrated her commitment to the community. Deb sees a need and rushes to fill that need with compassion and good humor. It is impossible to come away from an encounter with her without smiling as she uplifts those around her.

Henry has also worked to address food insufficiency by supporting Our Daily Bread food pantry, not only organizing donations from the DWC Marco but in one instance hand picking and delivering 200 avocadoes.

As chair of St. John Neumann’s home and school committee, in 2022 alone, she was on a team that organized multiple events for grandparents, parents, faculty and students and helped raise more than $315,000 from two fundraisers. On a daily basis, she's an on-the-go mom.

As vice chair of the Island Democrats, Henry further worked to educate club members on local issues by securing speakers from a variety of nonprofits to address the group. Knowing that politics divides our country, Deb believes that we all agree on 80% of the same things, and focusing on that 80%, she works to unite all people for the better good of our island.

To better connect the Democrats with the larger community, she led the group to join the Marco Chamber of Commerce, participation with which she regards as an important part of being a Marco citizen. A regular attendant at After 5 events, she has also benefited from the Chamber's Social Media training and participated in many other Island events from working at the DWC Marco booth at the Great Bowls of Fire chili event, attending the Christmas Tree lighting as well as volunteering for the Souper Bowl event at Mackle Park.

Henry regards civic participation not only as a personal responsibility but also as a way to improve the quality of community life for all Island residents.