Aid Captain Kim Homme After Flood Loss

My name is Wayne Pitts and I grew up on Upper Creek in Morganton, next door to my friend Denise Bishop. Many, many years have passed since I last saw Denise and her family, but she recently contacted me to share the story of her friend Kim Homme, Captain Kim Homme that is.

Captain Homme retired from the Charlotte Fire Department last year and settled down in her little mountain cabin on the Linville River, content to hike the mountains and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. All of that came to a cruel end as a result of the flooding associated with Hurricane Helene. Like so many survivors that Kim served during her long career as a firefighter, she has now also lost it all. Her home and furnishings will be replaced by her homeowner's insurance, though so many treasures, like the love letters sent by her father to her mother during the war, are now washed away. The trauma of losing your tangible belongings, as Kim knows all too well, is not easily overcome.

Kim is loved and respected by all who know her. Collectively, these friends, neighbors, colleagues, and other kind souls moved by her story of loss, want to encourage and embrace her. The purpose of this fund is to honor Kim for her years of altruistic service, to show our appreciation for her friendship and zeal for life, and to extend our love and empathy for her losses in the flood. Your contribution of $20, $50, or $100 will be used by Kim during her recovery from this trauma. Thank you for thinking of Captain Homme! We, her friends, join you in this collective embrace of dear Kim.