From Loss to Love
A Story of Rebuilding
By Angie Matthiessen, Chief Executive Officer, United Way Charlotte County
Sometimes the people who come to us for help end up teaching us the most.
When Alexandra first came to us three years ago, she had just experienced Hurricane Ian and the devastation it left behind. She lost everything and relocated from Fort Myers to Charlotte County, joining our organization through a dislocated worker grant designed to help individuals rebuild their lives and find employment after the storm.
Over that first year, Alexandra showed us exactly who she was. She worked hard, cared deeply about the mission, and approached each day with determination and grace. When the grant period concluded, hiring her permanently was an easy decision. She had already become part of our team.
During her time with us, she reached another milestone—becoming a United States citizen. Watching her prepare for and achieve this moment was a source of pride for all of us. It represented more than legal status; it was a declaration of belonging after a season of uncertainty.
Then, about a year ago, on a fated-sunset cruise hosted by one of our board members—whom we now affectionately call Matchmaker Marcia—Alexandra’s story took another beautiful turn. As the sky softened into gold and pink over the water, she met the man who would become her husband.
Today, Alexandra is preparing to relocate to another state to begin this next chapter of her life. While we will miss her deeply, she leaves a lasting mark on United Way Charlotte County.
Ask our staff what they will remember most, and the answers come quickly—with smiles.
They will remember her immediate smile and the warm hugs she somehow offered at exactly the right moment. They will remember the way she could talk to anyone about United Way, sharing our mission with enthusiasm and inviting others to help our community.
They will remember her as a “classy workhorse,” someone with a sophisticated, almost bougie palate who was also our office’s undisputed charcuterie queen. They will remember unexpected moments—like hearing her effortlessly switch into Dutch—but more than anything, they will remember her spirit.
After losing so much in the hurricane, Alexandra remained a steady source of positivity and hope. Her resilience is remarkable, but even more powerful is the quiet strength rooted in her faith. She carries a survivor’s spirit that reminds us hardship is real—and that it can happen to any of us.
Because she lived it, she helped all of us see the people who walk through our doors differently. Each person seeking help is not simply facing a challenge—they are a human being searching for hope.
There are many lessons our team will carry forward from Alexandra’s time with us.
Resilience is often quiet.
Opportunity, paired with determination, can transform a life.
Belonging matters—and meaningful work can anchor someone as they rebuild.
Even after tremendous loss, life still has the capacity to surprise us with joy.
Alexandra’s story reminds us why this work matters.
Her journey invites each of us to pause and remember that hardship can happen to any of us—and every person seeking help deserves dignity, compassion, and hope.
Perhaps the lesson is simple: resilience grows when community surrounds it.
Alexandra may be starting a new chapter in another state, but the imprint she leaves here will remain—in the way we serve, the way we see others, and the way we choose to show up for one another.
For more information about United Way Charlotte County’s mission—mobilizing the power of our community so all can thrive—please contact Angie Matthiessen, Chief Executive Officer, at director@unitedwayccfl.org.