Hi. My name is Rita Schiavone. I am the ceramics teacher at Carrboro High School in North Carolina. I have taught at Carrboro for 18 years. In total, I've been a teacher for 39 years. I've started this campaign because I need your help.

Summer 2025 has been a real challenge. I fell in May and broke my arm (humerus). July 6, Tropical Storm Chantal flooded my home. This isn't new to me as Hurricane Florence flooded my home in 2018, and I was just finishing the repairs. Chantal collapsed the back wall of my home, allowing 6 feet of water into my basement. My dog, Bri, and I had to immediately evacuate. The structural damage is worse than it was with Florence. I'm unable to live in the home. I'm awaiting my flood insurance payment, and I'm unsure if FEMA will pay for any of the damage. I'm currently looking for a new place to live, but in the meantime, I need help to pay rent for a new place, the mortgage on the flooded home, my hospital bill, and other expenses. Teachers are only paid 10 months out of the year, and I will not receive a paycheck until the end of August. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.