In Pearlington, Mississippi, volunteers helped families rebuild their homes. Pictured are Dave Davis (from left), homeowners Nick and Sherry Starky, homeowners Shirley and Zach Hunt, Mike Lane, and Jonathan Wyse. A benefit dinner is planned Wednesday for Dave Davis, 38, of St. Ignace, who became seriously ill following a November trip to Mississippi to repair houses ravaged by hurricanes. While working as a volunteer there, tearing out ceiling tile in a flooded house, Mr. Davis got a wood splinter and drywall dust in his eye, which led to an infection, ultimately causing viral meningitis. He was hospitalized for 10 days.

Friends are helping the Davis family meet medical expenses and will host an Italian buffet meal December 28, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Little Bob’s Frontier Restaurant on Mackinac Trail. Proceeds from the $10.95 meal will offset Mr. Davis’ medical bills and lost income, as will donations made to the family through First National Bank. The Davis family has no health insurance.

“I am feeling much better now,” said Mr. Davis Wednesday, December 21, “but I still have residual headaches and I do get fatigued easily.”

Mr. Davis, who missed two months of employment, said he is glad to be able to go back to his regular work schedule for the first time this week. Acertified nursing assistant, he is employed in the emergency department at Mackinac Straits Hospital and as a substitute teacher for area schools. He also serves as parttime pastor at Glen Memorial Baptist Church.

He and his wife, Jessica (nee Foote), have five young children, Immanuel, 13, Bethany, 11, Gabriel, 8, Micah, 6, and Keshia, 6. Mrs. Davis operates the Shear Happiness hair salon on Stockbridge Street in St. Ignace.

Pastor Mike Lane of Glen Memorial and Jonathan Wyse of St. Ignace were with Mr. Davis on the Mississippi trip, organized by the St. Ignace church and churches in Vicksburg and Gulfport, Mississippi.

“It was a quickly planned scouting trip to see how we could best help the people there,” Pastor Lane said. The three men spent one week sleeping in a church and repairing homes for four uninsured families, knocking out drywall, tearing down a water-soaked house trailer, disinfecting buildings to remove mold, hanging new drywall and cabinets, and doing finish carpentry work using donated materials.

“One home we worked on was far from any flood zone, yet it had four feet of water – in the upstairs,” said Pastor Lane. “We also worked in a little town called Pearlington, just five miles from the coast. That small town was just wiped out. Two months after the hurricane, they still were hoping to get electricity back. Families were staying in trailers set up in fields, about 1,000 trailers in one field, and they still will be for months. Anything along the coastline that had been developed was just gone. It was quite devastating.

“The amazing thing is, there is no shortage of work to be done,” Pastor Lane added. “You can just go down there, and where you see someone working, start helping them. The three of us were able to feel like we got a lot accomplished.”

Just as he had travelled to Mississippi to help families in need, once home, Mr. Davis found people in the St. Ignace community have been eager to help his family during his illness.

“People have been extremely generous,” Mr. Davis said. “We have received many cards, gifts from several different churches, and people have brought food. Mackinac Straits Hospital delivered a complete Thanksgiving dinner. Darwin Huey has offered to host a benefit dinner at his restaurant. It’s been incredible. Much of this has come from people who really had no reason to help us. We’ve been really grateful. We are thanking God.”

Following his hospitalization at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, part of which was in the Intensive Care Unit, Mr. Davis said he is facing at least $30,000 in hospital bills, with more to come.

Now that he is regaining his strength, Mr. Davis is thinking again of all the work that remains to be done in the hurricane region. While he won’t be able to make a return trip to Mississippi, he said, he is helping make plans to send another group of volunteer workers from the St. Ignace area, tentatively set for February.

“We are trying to get a bigger work crew together,” Mr. Davis said. “Anybody can participate, not just members of our church. I would ask anyone who would like to help to call me.”

Those who would like to learn more about the project may call Dave Davis at 643-6191 or Pastor Mike Lane at 643-8608.

Those who wish to contribute to the fund for the Davis family may contact Merv Wyse at First National Bank at 643-6800.