MIAMI, Fla. — Charles Garavaglia has called Miami home his entire life, and for nearly four decades, he dedicated himself to keeping the lights on for his neighbors. Now in retirement, the former Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) employee continues that mission of service in a different way—by helping his community prepare for hurricane season.
Garavaglia was among the FPL volunteers and retirees who recently distributed hurricane meal kits for seniors in partnership with Florida Council on Aging and United HomeCare at the Allapattah Community Center, bringing essential supplies directly to seniors who need them most.
“At FPL, we always emphasized getting involved and giving back to the community,” said Garavaglia. “As a lifelong Miami resident, this was an opportunity to do just that.”
The volunteer effort reflects FPL's deep roots in Miami, where the company has served customers for 100 years. For Garavaglia, who started as a summer intern in engineering and spent 38 years with FPL before retiring from his career at the company in information technology in October of 2022, the opportunity to continue serving represents the natural evolution of a career built on community connection.
"I think it's just a good thing to do. It's the right thing to do to help," said Garavaglia, who has kept in contact with former colleagues through the NextEra Energy Miami-Dade County Retiree Chapter. "You can't just dismiss all those relationships, and I've always been a big fan of FPL. It's a way of staying connected with a company that I really enjoyed working for."
The Allapattah Community Center hurricane meal kit distribution served the senior community, many of whom reside in the neighborhood and rely on each other during challenging times. Some may be on fixed incomes, face mobility challenges or lack adequate support systems, making storm preparation difficult.
“The help that FPL gives us is essential and really appreciated. I hope they continue to do it because it’s something that is desperately needed, especially for the seniors in our community,” said Adrian Rosario, a senior who received a kit.
The event was part of FPL's broader hurricane preparedness initiative in partnership with the Florida Council on Aging, designed to reach vulnerable populations across the state. Each kit contained three days' worth of shelf-stable meals and water, along with important storm preparedness information.
The experience reinforced Garavaglia’s belief that community exists wherever there are people willing to create it. "I think community is what you make of it. If you want to participate and get interested in what’s going on, you can do that, and if you want to keep to yourself, you keep to yourself," Garavaglia said.
Garavaglia's commitment to service extends far beyond his FPL career. As a certified ombudsman with the state of Florida, he advocates for elderly residents in assisted living facilities, ensuring they receive proper care and attention.
For employees and retirees like Garavaglia, these events showcase the lasting bonds within the FPL family and how company values endure well beyond retirement.
For FPL, initiatives like the Allapattah hurricane meal kit distribution for seniors demonstrate how the company's century-long presence in Miami goes beyond simply providing electricity to actively supporting the communities it serves.
With hurricane season underway, these preparedness efforts help ensure residents are ready for whatever storms may come. The hurricane meal kit distribution is part of FPL's comprehensive storm readiness program, which includes partnerships with local organizations across the state to reach seniors and other vulnerable populations before severe weather strikes.
For guidance on hurricane preparedness, FPL's website (FPL.com/storm) offers a wealth of tips, checklists and resources.
June 1 marks the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) is continuing its year-round preparations for hurricanes and severe weather and encourages all Floridians to have their plans ready.
This week, FPL employees are training in a mock hurricane scenario to prepare for storm season, which begins in less than one month.