Help Nikki Rebuild Post-Hurricane
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Nikki is a single mother in Northeast Houston whose home was completely flooded in Hurricane Harvey.
She's lived in this beautiful green house for sixteen years, raising four kids in a tight-knit community a few blocks from Hilliard Elementary School (one of the schools in HISD that received the most damage in the hurricane).
When I met her earlier today, she and her son were doing their best to clear their flood-soaked belongings from their house on their own. She is living in a tent under a pecan tree in her backyard while she tries to plot a path forward.
A work crew is headed to her house tomorrow to pitch in. They'll help her rip out carpeting, remove soaked sheetrock, and get the rest of the furniture onto the lawn. Behind that Nikki and her family's plans aren't yet certain. They could use all the financial support they can get as they navigate this very tough time.
About me and this campaign:
My name is Jessica Wilbanks and I am a resident of Houston. I met Nikki on Monday, 9/4 when I was volunteering in the neighborhood. Since then we've been in close contact by phone, and we will connect in person again the weekend of 9/8. Nikki does not have a bank account, so I will withdraw the funds to my personal account and give her a money order made out to her legal name, Nekeytha Fields. When I prepare the money order I will take a photograph and post it, and will also post a photo of me delivering the funds to Nikki. If anyone has questions about this process, please contact me through the campaign and I am happy to get back to you.
I have asked Lacy Johnson, a professor at Rice University, to serve as my accountability partner in overseeing the process to ensure that the funds go directly to Nikki and are used for her family's housing, food, clothing, and other essential needs.
Thank you so much for your support. I will post updates regularly on this page so you can see how her family is doing.
Update - For more information about Nikki's story, see this profile in today's Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-harvey-tent-20170905-story.html.
She's lived in this beautiful green house for sixteen years, raising four kids in a tight-knit community a few blocks from Hilliard Elementary School (one of the schools in HISD that received the most damage in the hurricane).
When I met her earlier today, she and her son were doing their best to clear their flood-soaked belongings from their house on their own. She is living in a tent under a pecan tree in her backyard while she tries to plot a path forward.
A work crew is headed to her house tomorrow to pitch in. They'll help her rip out carpeting, remove soaked sheetrock, and get the rest of the furniture onto the lawn. Behind that Nikki and her family's plans aren't yet certain. They could use all the financial support they can get as they navigate this very tough time.
About me and this campaign:
My name is Jessica Wilbanks and I am a resident of Houston. I met Nikki on Monday, 9/4 when I was volunteering in the neighborhood. Since then we've been in close contact by phone, and we will connect in person again the weekend of 9/8. Nikki does not have a bank account, so I will withdraw the funds to my personal account and give her a money order made out to her legal name, Nekeytha Fields. When I prepare the money order I will take a photograph and post it, and will also post a photo of me delivering the funds to Nikki. If anyone has questions about this process, please contact me through the campaign and I am happy to get back to you.
I have asked Lacy Johnson, a professor at Rice University, to serve as my accountability partner in overseeing the process to ensure that the funds go directly to Nikki and are used for her family's housing, food, clothing, and other essential needs.
Thank you so much for your support. I will post updates regularly on this page so you can see how her family is doing.
Update - For more information about Nikki's story, see this profile in today's Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-harvey-tent-20170905-story.html.
Organizer
Jessica Wilbanks
Organizer
Houston, TX
