Help John and Valorie Rebuild After Devastating Mudslide

If you know us, you know that we often speak about the magic of community and the love that Jay and I share for our beautiful town of Black Mountain. Much of that can be attributed to two remarkable people: John and Valorie Snell. We moved to this little town in Western North Carolina in January of 2018 and John and Val were two of the first people we met in our neighborhood. Without knowing anyone else in Black Mountain, we were embraced by them like family. We like to call John the “neighborhood dad” because he’s deeply respected, loved, and a big part of the energy which makes our little part of the world so special. Together, they have lived in our community for over 30 years.

John, a retired social worker, is a beacon of light and positivity. He volunteers his time tirelessly, hosting grief support groups, helping the elderly, and offering comfort for everyone in times of need. Just after the hurricane, John still showed up for others, tirelessly volunteering for Black Mountain Presbyterian Church to provide essential meals and supplies, and offering support for neighbors grappling with their own losses, despite facing his own.

Valorie was a compassionate nurse for decades and her garden was her pride and joy—a masterpiece 20+ years in the making. As you'd walk by their home, you’d often find John and Valorie outside, planting, spreading mulch, and creating/perfecting their tranquil paradise. Their property had this peaceful creek running through it, adding a gentle soundtrack of trickling water and birdsong to their little sanctuary. The garden’s soil was so rich you could dig in and find a dozen worms in a single handful. We have always taken such inspiration from their garden and have been honored as Valorie has shared many, many plants with me over the years to help in building my own.

John and Valorie have been like guardians for us. Whenever we travel, they keep a close eye on our home, feed/play with the cats, bring in our mail, and make sure everything is just as we left it. And when Dillon was born, they were the first to offer a helping hand, knowing we don’t have family living nearby to help us. She asked me if they could start babysitting Dillon for a few hours each week and I gladly accepted the help. When asking them how much we can expect to pay her, Valorie replied by saying, “Nothing, this is my way of giving back to my community.” I quickly learned that Valorie’s other passion (besides gardening) is children as she loves the few kiddos that she cares for each week as if they were her own. We are eternally grateful for this!

To know John and Valorie is to experience the best of humanity. Their kindness, generosity, and dedication to others is a gift we’ve been so lucky to receive.

But on September 27th, their life was forever changed. A massive landslide from the land above them came crashing down, surrounding their entire home in several feet of mud, silt, and storm debris; flooding their home; and ravaging their entire property. The water also washed away their deck, submerged both of their cars and their son's, and buried Valorie’s beloved gardens. The sight was shocking—a jaw-dropping moment that quickly turned to deep sadness and disbelief, for them, and our entire community who loves them.

John and Valorie retired just last year, and much of their financial security is tied to this home. Sadly, like so many of us, they found that insurance offered no coverage for the damage. When FEMA finally assessed the situation, they offered $22,000—a number so low, it feels like a slap in the face.

Together, with our neighbors, Zach and Caitlin, who too have been overwhelmingly blessed by John and Valorie, we are reaching out to our communities to help support them during this heartbreaking time to help cover the following:

1. Foundation Assessment & Securement: Currently, John and Valorie's home is deemed unsafe by the town because of structural uncertainty. In order to determine the structural integrity, their home and foundation need to be dug out from feet of mud and thoroughly assessed by structural engineers, to determine if the foundation is intact, and if not, what's needed to secure the foundation. An assessment will cost thousands, and if foundation work is needed, it will cost an additional tens of thousands and require them to temporarily relocate, incurring additional costs.

2. Comprehensive Stormwater Drainage Solution: In addition to stabilizing the foundation, a comprehensive solution to diverting future stormwater and mitigating the risk of land and mudslide from their home is essential. An estimated $25,000 is needed for this work.

3. Mold Remediation: To ensure the safety and longevity of their home and themselves, mold remediation in flooded areas of the home (living room, bedroom, etc.) is needed, costing an estimated $5,000.

4. Rebuild of Water-Damaged Interior: Once the interior has been remediated, John and Valorie will begin the process of rebuilding the interior, including installing new walls and flooring, painting, and acquiring new furnishings to replace what was damaged. This will cost an estimated $10,000.

5. Rebuild of Destroyed Exterior: While John and Valorie's gardens were truly priceless and cannot be fully rebuilt, they are excited by the possibility to reimagine and regrow their paradise. It will cost thousands of dollars and require many hours of labored love to rebuild. Their destroyed deck will cost $5,000 to rebuild.

While rebuilding to this extent may seem like a big undertaking, if anyone can do it with grace, positivity, and patience, it's John and Valorie: they are committed to staying in their beloved home and community of Black Mountain and being beacons of hope for others during this dark time. Every single dollar of your generous contributions will go directly to John and Valorie so they can begin the process of rebuilding their home and restoring a life filled with joy, kindness, and care for their community.

Please join us in giving back to two people who have given so much of themselves to us and to others in Black Mountain.

We thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for anything you’re able to give.