Aid George and Cathy in Overcoming Flood Damage

Sam Sweet is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of George Mitchell.

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I’m raising money for George Mitchell, who I've known since 2006. I was hired to write his biography when Fat Possum first released his massive archive of field recordings from the 1960s and 1970s. When I was a young writer, George gave me a model of how to go in the world. He showed me that you could pursue your art, live generously, proceed with openness and curiosity, and leave a contribution in your community.

Now George and his wife Cathy need our help. In 2022, the storm surge from Hurricane Ian wiped out the first floor of their home in Fort Myers, Florida. They spent everything they had and more than a year rebuilding, only to get flooded again this year by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The floors, walls, and cabinets are currently being ripped out of their house for mold remediation. George and Cathy are 80. Cathy has survived two rounds of breast cancer. George has CPOD and uses inhalers to help with breathing. Last week, he was advised that it's potentially lethal for him to be in his home before it's renovated. This holiday season, his days are spent chasing down permits and supervising contractors from outside; at night, he sleeps 30 minutes away at a motel paid for with a limited amount of FEMA funds.

For those who don’t know, George is one of the country's most unique and groundbreaking documentarians of Southern culture. Just check out the massive George Mitchell Collection on Fat Possum Records or one of his many photo books. His work has directly influenced not only me but the musician & songwriter Jake Fussell and the photojournalist Dustin Chambers. Countless high schoolers in the Atlanta area learned from George how to document the world around them.

Eventually, George’s archives will end up in the Smithsonian or some other big institution. The newspapers will praise his contributions to American music. I know he’ll be celebrated when he’s gone but I’d rather George and Cathy be celebrated now, when they need it.

This fundraiser won't cover everything they need but it will pay for the immediate costs of HVAC replacement and mold remediation. Instead of defying the reality of climate change, George and Cathy are doing their best to adapt to the new reality. Knowing that they can't sell their house for a fair price, they hope to spend their final years in Fort Myers, enjoying the little things they love. Cathy spends all day tending to their expansive garden. George still swims every morning in the Gulf and is putting together a book-length retrospective of his photos and interviews from throughout the South over five decades.

They've given so much to their communities over the years. 2024 put them through absolute hell. Please give 'em a lift by giving what you can.