A Lightning Strike Uprooted Us—Help Us Get Back Home

Hi everyone,

My name is Victoria Gibson, and I live in the Cane Bay area of Summerville, SC, with my mom, my two daughters, our two dogs, and our cat. On June 10, 2025, during those wild thunderstorms, our home was directly struck by lightning. It blew a hole in our roof, damaged the AC ducts, fried several AC components, and burned through electrical wiring in the attic.

We have homeowners insurance, but unfortunately, our deductible is $6,000.

I’m a single mom who was already struggling to make ends meet before all of this. My mother is retired and on a fixed income. I work as a substitute teacher for Charleston and Berkeley counties, but with school out for the summer, my only income right now is from rideshare driving. It helps cover the basics, but I have no idea how I’ll come up with $6,000 for the deductible.

We’re incredibly blessed to have amazing friends who have taken us in temporarily, but I need to figure out how to make our home livable again. Four extra people and three pets are a lot for anyone to take on!

I’m not someone who normally asks for help—I’m usually the one donating or pitching in when others are in need. But right now, I’m at a loss. I know times are tough for everyone, but any little bit would help us get closer to our goal and back into our home.

If you're unable to donate, please consider sharing. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.

With gratitude,

Victoria