Ace Hardware Corporation is spotlighting Sunshine Ace Hardware’s response to Hurricane Ian in a new documentary-style video being released on Thursday, the one-year anniversary of Ian’s landfall in Southwest Florida.

The 5-minute video is part of Ace Hardware Corporation’s “Ace Heartware Stories,” a video series that highlights the actions of unsung, red-vested heroes across the company’s 5,800 stories in approximately 60 countries. Titled “Sunshine in the Storm,” the video focuses on Sunshine Ace Hardware’s desire to immediately reopen retail stores, which became a lifeline to residents in need of generators, hardware, building supplies and water, despite stores lacking power and employees dealing with damage to their own homes. One associate even hand-delivered bottled water to an elderly couple who could not travel to a store.

“I have to say I was truly humbled when I came in the store less than 24 hours after Hurricane Ian had passed, to see our associates ready to help customers despite having damage to their own homes,” said Sunshine Ace Hardware President Michael Wynn.

The Heartware Stories video also mentions Sunshine Ace Hardware’s quest to take care of its own associates. The Naples-based company arranged for its Ace Handyman Services to repair an associate’s home, for instance, while Wynn’s father allowed two displaced associates to use his guesthouse until their homes were repaired.

“Being part of a committed family means not only taking care of those that we serve, but also being there for each other in our greatest time of need, and that is exactly what our team did in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian,” Wynn said.

Ace Hardware Corporation will be posting the Heartware Stories video on its social media channels on Thursday. The video is available online at AceHardware.com/heartwarestories/stories/sunshine-in-the-storm.

About Sunshine Ace Hardware

Family-owned and operated since 1958, Sunshine Ace Hardware is one of Florida’s largest family-owned home improvement retailers. The Naples-based company operates 10 locations in Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Pinellas counties, as well as Sunshine Commercial Paint & More in Collier County, two Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware stores in Manatee County and two Crowder’s Gifts & Gadgets stores in Manatee County. Each store is staffed by friendly, knowledgeable associates known for going the extra mile to help commercial and residential customers find the right tools for their jobs. Sunshine Ace is the region’s go-to source for power equipment, paint, hardware, fishing gear, plumbing products, electrical supplies, gifts and home improvement products, including name brands like Benjamin Moore, STIHL, Milwaukee, Scotts, Weber, Big Green Egg, Penn and Shimano. Through its Helpful Hub, Sunshine Ace provides services like screen repair, key cutting and color matching, as well as delivery and assembly for grills, power tools and more. Sunshine Ace offers three convenient options to shop: in-store, curbside pickup and online with home delivery. Sunshine Ace also brings its helpful service to your home through its Ace Handyman repair services. For additional information such as operating hours, handyman services and locations, please visit SunshineAce.com.