Helene Took It All. Please Help Chris and Drue Rebuild.

Robin Ballew Culbertson is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

I am Alice Drue Culbertson's mom. She and her boyfriend Chris Kennedy lost everything to Hurricane Helene. They were able to escape the waters of Mill Creek in Old Fort, NC with their cats and the clothes on their backs. It was almost too late by the time they realized what was happening, so even their shoes got ruined when they were fleeing. Mill Creek swept through the house, within about two feet of the ceiling. The only things found worth saving were my parents' ashes and some photos that were on a very high shelf. To make a long story short, Drue’s son has everything he needs and more, including his personal items, thankfully.

My husband Chip and I owned the old farmhouse they lived in. We are hearing that Chris and Drue will receive funds to replace some household items eventually, which we are grateful for. But right now, they and SO MANY OTHERS have no place to put household items anyway. :-( Because it's not our primary residence, FEMA can’t even pay off the loan that we have left on it. That's understandable, as the agency was designed to help renters and owners of primary residences, but it's still a hardship, and leaves Chris and Drue with no permanent home. We are blessed that they do have a safe short-term place to stay with their cats! (The dog in the photo was our grandson's other grannie's dog, who is safe.)

Thankfully, Chris will start a new job next week, after he pays $110 for the mandatory drug test. Chris scrabbled over the years to get all the tools he needs to work, but all those tools are down in a sinkhole under the house. We can't get to it, and anything electronic was destroyed of course. Replacing the tools is Chris's primary concern right now, as that's how he makes his living.

Chip and I own a quilt store in Asheville. Alice Drue works with us. We hold several fundraisers for local organizations each year. Our biggest fundraiser is a customer quilt show that benefits our local food bank, MANNA. Our generous customers have given more than $30,000 to MANNA over the years through this event! We also hold annual fundraisers for Santa Pal in WNC, and Hope Chest for Women here in WNC as well. Our website is www.ashevillecottonco.com if you want to check it out and order something (or a gift card especially)! This is a shameless plug, as we have lost over a week of business already, and the store still doesn’t have internet. We are so very blessed to have wonderful customers who have reached out to us to offer help of all kinds. We have a link on our website to help out our customers as well.

The place where Chris and Drue are staying is almost 50 miles away from their jobs, so gas money is going to eat away at their paychecks until they can get a place closer to work. One working car was spared, but another one needs parts so that Chris can get it going again. And of course, he needs the tools. We're looking for places to get donated tools or inexpensive tools if anyone has a lead on that.

We are all so very grateful that Chris and Drue were able to escape with their cats, a car and their lives! There are so many others who did not. The total decimation of the area is even worse and more widespread than what you see in the news. There are others who have lost everything also, and if you can give to organizations that help them, too, that would be much appreciated. My grandson and I have been volunteering for days at a distribution center in Black Mountain, and the stories I’m hearing are heartbreaking. The one that sticks out the most is an older couple who lost their home, four dogs, their chickens and their pigs. They are living in their beat up car (spared, thank goodness!) next to their house that was destroyed. I worry for them when the weather turns. I hope they will ask someone for help. I’m mad at myself for not getting their names so I can try to help, but honestly, I have heard stories like this for days and days, and so I’m trying to help anyone I can. We don’t know yet how many of my grandson’s schoolmates in Swannonoa are no longer with us. Please keep all of the kids in your prayers as well.

Asking for help ourselves has been harder than organizing any fundraiser we’ve ever organized. I finally convinced Alice Drue (after a week) to come get a few supplies at the distribution center where I’ve been working all week. She kept saying that she felt like she was stealing and wanted to leave stuff for other people. I’m seeing that over and over. Mountain People are strong! And proud! And wonderful!

Any money raised through this GoFundMe will be used to get Chris and Drue started moving on a path forward. I asked for $8000 because 8 is my lucky number and I have no idea what the goal should be as I’ve never organized a GoFundMe. I would love to be able to get a down payment together for a home for them. That might be just a dream, as I know that’s even bigger than $8000, but I am a big dreamer!

I know that fundraisers that have the quickest response and the largest number of people responding are the most successful. If you could consider a quick $25 or $50 donation to your favorite GoFundMe campaigns, that would be super helpful to us and them, even if you want to donate more later. Also, the more you share on all your social media, the better the chances people who are not directly affected can be reached. I certainly don't want to take money from anyone local who needs to take care of themselves right now. If by the grace of God this fundraiser happens to go way beyond my wildest dreams, we will of course find a way to also help our neighbors, as we always have.

Thank you so very much for anything you can do for us and/or the community. I know that there are so many people out there who don't even have as much as my daughter and Chris. At least they have each other and a supportive family and friends. Believe me, any help is appreciated more than you could ever know. God bless you.