Hurricane Relief for Sierra & Forrest's Community

Hello!

Our sister Sierra and her partner Forrest are part of the Fort Myers beach community that's been devastated by hurricane Ian.

They've been in a temporary living situation since the storm struck because they were previously living on their sailboats. Sierra's home, the beloved Saily McSailFace, broke loose during the hurricane, and there's nothing left of the marina where it was kept. She is still looking for Saily every day in the mangroves. Miraculously, Forrest's boat, Salacia, survived, but it's in need of some repairs.

They've been going out along the coast daily, helping people recover lost items and bringing them needed supplies to try and help make their living situations more stable. Most people are without power and water still.

Many of their friends and neighbors have also lost their livelihoods and homes overnight. They will use funds raised to support them as well.

Any money you contribute will make a big difference in helping with:

Thank you for your support!

- Kelsey & Molly

(we're located in St. Pete, FL and we intend on bringing things down soon too)

Sierra going out on her dingy to help others in Fort Myers Beach.

A food and supplies station they set up shortly after the hurricane.

An update from Forrest and Sierra:

Thank you so much to all who have donated to our GoFundMe! The support we have received from friends and family wanting to help has been heartwarming. We have been able to get supplies to our friends still living in the mooring field and marina. We have also set to work recording the location of all the boats we find in the mangroves while looking for Saily. We plan to publish an interactive map to share with anyone who lost a vessel in that area.

It is hard to imagine a silver lining in times like these, but our community's response has been astonishing. After spending a day tabling with goods, we realized the most effective way to help would be to partner with local community leaders who have established networks. Joe and Anise, who have run a local custom auto shop for six years, have set up a food and supply distribution hub out of their shop. They have been an incredible resource for what's left of the community. Anise cooks 3 meals a day for hundreds of people and has organized all the donated food and clothes so that anyone in need can get what they require without hassle. They are by far the most organized resource we have seen here, FEMA and Red Cross included. A large portion of the funds we have received and any further donations will go to support their efforts in providing warm meals, supplies, and shelter for the community.

In the past week, we have received an extraordinary amount of funds. We have been able to provide a lot of food, water, gas, and medical supplies to those in need, and a generator to Joe and Anise. We are researching the possibility of funding a few weeks of much-needed port-a-johns and have budgeted to save some funds to get Salacia back in cruising shape.

Over the next few months, we will be spending our free time assisting Joe and Anise, mapping lost boats in the mangroves, fixing Salacia, and helping those who are staying however we can. We appreciate your support and will do our best to keep in touch.