My name is Chesalena Daniels, and Gary, Indiana is home to me. My family, loved ones, and so many people I care about are there, and watching my city go through this disaster has been heartbreaking.

For the past 11 days, families throughout Gary have been dealing with extended power outages and the financial stress that comes along with them. People have lost food, had to find temporary places to stay, purchase emergency supplies, spend additional money on transportation and meals, and figure out how to keep their families safe and comfortable while waiting for things to return to normal.

Over the past several days, I have personally received numerous messages from people asking for financial assistance. I have helped where I can, but I also have family directly affected by this situation. I quickly realized that the need is much greater than what I can personally handle alone.

That is why I created this fundraiser.

I want to use the platform and community I have been blessed with to bring people together and help as many Gary families as possible.

Donations from this fundraiser will be used to provide assistance for immediate needs such as groceries and replacement food, emergency household necessities, temporary lodging when needed, transportation and fuel, personal necessities, and other urgent expenses caused by this disaster.

My goal is not to promise that I can fix everything or help every person by myself. My goal is to create a collective effort where we can make a meaningful difference for multiple families.

Whether you are able to give $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, or more, every contribution matters. If you are unable to donate financially, simply sharing this fundraiser can help us reach someone who can.

To my fellow tax professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners, friends, colleagues, supporters, and everyone who follows my platform — I am asking you to help me pour back into the city that raised me.

One person may not be able to help an entire community, but together, we can help make this difficult time a little easier for families who need it most.

Thank you for supporting Gary. ❤️