My sister and brother-in-law, Lindsey and Ben, began doing some home renovations a few weeks ago. They were in the process of adding a master bathroom, which required a wall to be opened up. To their surprise, it was FULL of mold. After discovering this, Lindsey and Ben decided to move out while the renovation was completed and until the mold situation was under control. The contractor continued working, but it was becoming obvious this was a much larger issue.

A mold expert came out to do some testing, and it revealed that the mold levels in Lindsey and Ben's home were dangerously high. For example, a normal level of mold spores per square foot should be below 500-1,000. Their home tested with highs of 700,000 spores per square foot, to lows of 95,000. After the tests showed astronomical levels, it was clear they needed to open up all the walls in the house and take them down to the studs. Almost every wall they opened up has been floor-to-ceiling black, white, and pink mold.

They hired a remediation company to properly manage this disaster. The specialists determined the levels are so high that all porous items must be thrown out. This includes couches, carpet, rugs, mattresses, curtains, and clothing. Many of those items are irreplaceable, such as sentimental items, her mid-century furniture, vintage clothing, and her collection of art she has created over the years. They also just found out they have to tear up all their flooring, as well as take all the insulation out of the attic, and rip out their ceilings. To make matters worse, insurance won't cover a dime. Their home and bank account are currently gutted, and they just finished the process of throwing everything away. Lindsey has spent the last 10 years perfecting her home, and now it is a shell.

The money raised will help pay for the costly remediation, drywall replacement, and help replace all of their furniture and belongings lost to the mold. Every dollar will go directly toward getting Lindsey and Ben back into a safe, comfortable home. They are looking at costs around $100,000, NOT including having to furnish their home.

Lindsey and Ben are not the type to reach out for help, and I'm sure they won't be happy with me when they discover this. They are both extremely kind and giving people. They frequently volunteer for events, donate goodies, and give back to the community—even with their extremely busy schedules. It's now our turn to help them out. Anything is greatly appreciated!