My dear sister, Cindy and her family have endured the last month since Hurricane Helene decimated their beautiful town of Asheville, NC. The stories she has shared with me are absolutely heartbreaking and it's not improving for a long while. The city was built on tourism, but the infrastructure that is now in ruins will take a long time to rebuild. Their places of work have restricted their hours due to the impacts on the community which means they can't get paid. I would like your help to support them as the relief efforts are slow. I want to help keep them financially afloat while they try to make ends meet due to lost wages for the next several months.

Thankfully, their home was largely unaffected, besides the failed sump pump due to the loss of electricity. The water supply is running however, their community is still operating under a boil advisory. The water is not being treated yet and folks will get very sick if they are not careful. One of the city officials declared that every water way should be considered a hazmat until they have been cleared. Communication about what resources are available is not always accurate or timely. The local and national media channels are not providing the full story, as it seems, perhaps the public cannot take another gut punch. But Cindy knows the stories. I'd love to give her an opportunity to tell the stories she is witnessing, in photos or words, and help support her family as they have chosen to stay. Their home is sheltering Cindy, Cass, Cass' father, their youngest adult child who works at an outdoor preschool (also with limited hours), their 2 beagles, and the chickens.

If you want a snapshot of who my sister is, this is a great little article about the work she does. Here's another one that tells about the work their eldest child has been doing at Bear's Smokehouse BBQ which has been turned into a World Central Kitchen, turning out thousands of meals to care for folks in need!

Thank you so much for any amount you care to give! It is all received with joy and gratitude. Let's remind them that we have not forgotten about them and care about their flourishing after this devastating community-wide disaster.

With love and gratitude,

Laura