I’m starting this GoFundMe on behalf of my friend, Cristina Bones (Salvador) and her family who have been hit hard by the aftermath of Tropical Storm Debby. Their home was severely damaged, especially the first floor, which now has no doors, walls, floors, kitchen, or bathrooms. They lost almost all of their furniture on the first floor, and to make matters worse, the flood wasn’t just water—the city and EPA confirmed that it was sewage-contaminated. On top of that, they lost three vehicles in the flood, including the car they had just gotten for their daughter in May as she prepared to go back to college. Sadly, they cannot even move back into the second floor as my friend is caring for their elderly father who has dementia, and the house is simply not safe for him.

One of the biggest challenges they’re facing is that they didn’t have flood insurance because their home wasn’t in a designated flood zone. To get any assistance from FEMA, the President needs to officially declare this a disaster area. Unfortunately, this process could take months, even up to a year, and there’s no guarantee it will happen at all. In the meantime, they are shouldering the overwhelming costs of repairs, replacing lost items, and covering basic expenses like hotel stays and food.

The outpouring of support from the community has been amazing. Church organizations helped demolish the damaged parts of their home, and volunteers have donated toiletries and cleaning supplies, for which they are incredibly grateful. However, the journey to fully recover and return home remains long and uncertain.

My friend never wanted to create a GoFundMe, as they feel uncomfortable asking for help and didn’t want it to seem like they’re asking for handouts. But after seeing how overwhelming the recovery has been, myself and others insisted because we know how much they’re struggling. They’ve always been there for others, and now it’s time for us to be there for them.

That’s why I’m reaching out to anyone who can assist them during this difficult time. Whether it’s a donation or sharing this page, anything helps and will make a huge difference in helping them rebuild their lives.