Aid for Twins Displaced by Devastating Floods

These two beautiful women, 90-year-old twins, and the one on the right is my soon-to-be mother-in-law, are survivors of Hurricane Helene. My name is Catherine Cruz, fiancé of Donna Mae’s son, Robert Kunkel. We live in San Jose, California.

This last summer, we went to visit Robert’s mother, Donna Mae Kunkel, at her mobile home park, in Florida. We were able to take some time off of work with our daughter during her summer vacation to see her grandmother. We talked about her selling her trailer and moving to higher ground, but due to the economy, she couldn’t afford it either.

This picture was just taken on September 8th, 2024, the twins' birthday, in my mother’s mobile home. They were comfortable and happy. The other twin had a mobile home two doors down.

Devastating Hurricane Helene flooded their mobile homes and cars, among many others in that elder community also affected. Everything is flooded; they were displaced and could not afford a hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida, so they ended up sleeping in the mobile home parking clubhouse. They are now currently sleeping in the clubhouse, sleeping on the pool furniture. As of recent, the water has receded, but only 2 ft. from half the trailer deep. Due to their health and safety, they couldn’t go back to the trailer because of the hazards. Nothing can be salvaged. They not only lost their livelihood and will never be able to recover or sell off what is left of the trailer home or bring any home essentials because all was in ruin. They couldn’t afford insurance. Flood insurance was priced so high they could not afford to get it on a fixed income. However, after 30 years, Helene finally came and ended it all for so many in one night.

We are doing our best to relocate them to another state, and we pray and hope we can raise enough funds to at least get them beds, furniture, a dinner table (they still love to cook), medicine, and get them a place to live together, so that they can live out their last days together. Donna Mae Kunkel (wife of a veteran) and her sister Monna Fae Maginnes are the most peaceful, wonderful women you would be so lucky to have as we are. They are the family's rock.

Please help with anything you can donate.

We thank you for all you can do.