We are a family of 4, living in West Michigan. We have 2 beautiful kids, one currently in 10th grade and the other in 5th grade. We have been very blessed. 
 
On Tuesday March 10th, our lives changed in an instant when our home was severely flooded. What started as a us all watching the lightning together, 10 minutes later we are all holding back a wall of water that burst through the doors and changed our lives. We are grateful our two children (Bray and Em) made it out safely, but we have lost nearly everything else. 
 
We did everything we could to manage the water but all of our efforts were without resolve. All we could do is sit and watch as water levels rose throughout the entire place, trying to save our most valued items. Seeing the looks on our kids faces as their sense of security had been so quickly impacted, trying to ensure them it will all be ok was no less than heartbreaking. 
 
We’ve lost the essentials : our beds, most of our clothing, and our furniture. More painfully, we’ve lost years of irreplaceable keepsakes and the sense of security our children felt in their own rooms. 

Currently, we are in the clean up phase while living out of a hotel and working to navigate the immediate aftermath of this disaster. 
 
The embarrassment of reaching out and asking for help sits heavy in our hearts. As parents our pride must get pushed to the side and we must not leave any stone unturned to provide our kids with the necessities so they can focus on being kids. 
 
We are starting this GoFundMe to help our family of four get back on our feet. Your donations will go directly toward: 
 
<ul>
<li>Replacing beds and bedding for the kids. 
</li>
<li>Purchasing essential clothing and school supplies. 
</li>
<li>Securing temporary housing/storage. 
</li>
<li>Replacing basic furniture and appliances to make a new space livable. 
</li>
</ul> 
Asking for help is never easy, but the road to rebuilding is long, and we cannot do it alone. Whether it’s a donation, a prayer, or simply sharing this link with your network, we are endlessly grateful for your kindness during the hardest chapter of our lives. 
<img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/101196627_1773685026200909_r.jpg" alt="101196627_1773685026200909_r.jpg" />

Natalie Bowser

Fred Brown

Molly Lindhout

Donald Mekkes

Jen Beers

Toby Spencer

Anonymous

Kelli DeYoung

Brian Chan

Suraj Cherian

Nancy Rettinhouse

Barbara Atunrase

Raquel Huber

Kirsten Lewis

Amy Ballor

Help Our Family of 4 Restore What the Water Took

Help Our Family of 4 Restore What the Water Took

Still $1,744 to go. Help us build momentum.