Connie & Destin Home Rebuild

On Tuesday, many of us caught our first glimpse of sunshine in days, and we knew that the immediate nightmare that was Harvey was over. Venturing out for the first time on Wednesday, I felt such a deep relief to be out of the immediate danger, and I could feel many parts of my city experiencing that same relief. But for so many of us the long work of rebuilding our lives has just begun.
Hurricane Harvey was a disaster the likes of which we have never lived through before. The sheer volume of images and reporting of the destruction itself has been overwhelming and disorienting. But outside the collective trajadey, one of the places I have felt it the most is in the particular experience of best friend of fifteen years, Connie Maceo. My best friend and her husband live in Dickenson, Texas where some of the worst flooding in the Houston area occurred. Within a matter of hours Saturday night, her house was submersed in flood water up to the roof. The newlyweds have quite truly lost everything.
Connie Maceo has a big heart and bright personality - what she means to me and the people who know her is bigger than Harvey and brighter than any of the days or lightning-filled nights in between. Connie has never met a stranger, fills any room with warmth and laughter, and she cares for her family, friends, and community. She was recently married, and watching her stand beside the Galveston beach in her wedding dress, sharing vows with her soon to be husband, the future seemed so hopeful and lovely for her. I want to give her back some of that hope and love that was carried away. I hope you will join me in doing the same.
If you are looking for a way to help those who have been affected by this disaster, please consider donating to this gofundme I have created for Connie and Destin. All donations will go to helping rebuild their home and replacing all of their belongings. Any amount would be helpful and will be forever appreciated.

Maddie Brock - Houston, TX