Our House Steps Up To Provide Shelter For Stranded Visitors During Storm

What began as a first-time day trip to Nantucket turned into an unexpected overnight ordeal for a Tampa family when ferry cancellations left them stranded with nowhere to stay.

On the evening of Saturday, May 30, a family of nine travelers visiting from Florida found themselves in a panic, searching for accommodations after weather-related ferry cancellations disrupted their plans to leave the island.

On this particular weekend, the island experienced a powerful storm with temperatures falling into the low 40s, and strong northwest winds that beached more than a dozen boats.

With most hotels booked solid during the Nantucket Food and Wine Festival weekend and few options available, the group spent hours searching for help before an act of kindness from a local nonprofit changed everything.

Pauline Proch, executive director of Our House Nantucket, first learned about the stranded travelers' situation while scrolling through the Nantucket Year-Round Community Facebook page just after 9 p.m.

"I saw a post that they were stranded and had been told the boat would not return," Proch explained.

Within 30 minutes of viewing the Facebook post, Proch had arranged transportation along with her son and opened the doors of the nonprofit's building, providing a safe place for the nine visitors to spend the night.

"It's the right thing to do," Proch said. "We were in a position to help them."

The family intended to leave the island around 1 p.m., but learned earlier in the day that the boat had been canceled. They were initially told a later boat may run, so they waited in hopes of returning home. As wind conditions worsened, they began searching for a place to spend the night.

Family member Pat Garcia explained they were quoted as much as $3,500 for a room that required a two-night minimum stay. Another reservation that appeared for them online also turned out to be a booking error with no space available.

"We felt so lost," Garcia said.

The family had spent the night calling hotels, churches, local officials, and other organizations in search of a place to stay. According to Garcia, they were also told they could not remain at the ferry terminal after it had closed for the night.

Another relative eventually joined the Nantucket Year-Round Community Facebook page and posted a plea for help. Pauline Proch saw this within minutes.

"Think about what it would be like if I were in this situation," Proch said. "I don't think anyone coming for the day would ever think this would happen."

Thankfully, Our House Nantucket already had three rooms prepared.

What stood out most to Proch was the gratitude the family had.

"I didn't know anything about them," she said. "They were a lovely family, and they could not stop thanking us."

For the Tampa family, the relief was immediate.

"Pauline was amazing to open her doors for nine people," said Garcia. "She was an angel."

The following day, after safely returning home to Florida, the family sent Pauline a heartfelt message expressing their deep appreciation.

"Without hesitation, you opened your home to complete strangers and gave us warmth, safety, and comfort when we needed it most," the letter continued. "Your compassion turned what could have been a frightening and miserable night into one filled with hope and relief."

While Our House primarily operates as a nonprofit after-school program for local high school students during the school year, Proch said that helping the family aligned with the organization's overall mission of providing a safe and supportive environment for those in need.

The program serves roughly 400 students each year and offers meals, homework assistance, college visits, and mentoring opportunities designed to support the local youth.

Although providing emergency lodging is not a part of its regular programming, Proch explained how helping the stranded family was a simple decision.

The family ended the letter with a message Proch says she will never forget.

"Thank you for opening not only your home but also your heart to us," they wrote. "We will always remember your kindness and the difference you made in our lives."