Tornado. Stroke. Displaced-Help Pat & Craig’s Family Rebuild

My name is Caroline Wideman, and I’m the Owner and Operating Partner of Drybar St. Louis. Pat and Craig have been the cleaning crew at our Clayton shop for years—showing up with care and reliability, and always working hard to keep our space clean, welcoming, and running smoothly. They’re consistent, hardworking, and the kind of people any team is lucky to have.

They never said a word, but I recently found out their family has been facing an unimaginable series of challenges.

On May 9th, Pat’s father suffered a stroke and he is unable to work. Just days later, on May 16th, an F3 tornado tore through St. Louis and destroyed her parents’ home in North City. With nowhere else to go, Pat and Craig opened their doors—welcoming not only her parents, but also her brother, sister, and young nieces and nephews—with love and resilience as they all began the difficult process of rebuilding.

When I asked about the damage, Pat simply said: “It’s really bad… it hurts.”

And unfortunately, I found out that’s just the beginning of what they’re facing:

* Pat’s brother (35) lives with her parents and has a seizure disorder requiring constant care.

* Her sister is navigating a divorce while raising seven children—the youngest just 8 months old—and now has no stable home. She’s currently going between a shelter and Pat & Craig's home.

* The family’s only car was severely damaged in the storm—five windows blown out—leaving them without reliable transportation during an already overwhelming time.

Pat and Craig are doing all of this while raising two children of their own. Their story of resilience stretches back even further. In 2015–2016, Craig lost both his brother and sister-in-law just one year apart. They left behind a niece, nephew, and twin boys—whom Craig and Pat stepped in to raise. Their lives have been marked by hardship, but also by extraordinary compassion and quiet strength.

Pat’s family salvaged what they could from their destroyed home and have temporarily stored it in a U-Haul storage unit, which they’ll only have access to for a few more weeks. The home is infested and smells of mold. Just about every room/part of their home is unsalvageable, including Pat’s sister’s bedroom with all of her children’s belongings. Pat’s father recently had an MRI following his stroke, and the family is still waiting on results.

Despite all of this, Pat and Craig continue to show up for work. They show up for their family. And they show up for us.

We’re raising funds to help Pat and Craig’s family rebuild—and to provide the essentials they need right now. Our first goal is to repair their family car so they have safe, reliable transportation. But with enough support, we’re hopeful we can go even further—helping with groceries, temporary housing, and basic needs for the many family members now living in their home.

Pat shared the following list of immediate high-need items, and we’ll be working to help make sure these are covered in the days ahead. While GoFundMe contributions will offer the quickest way to directly support Pat and Craig’s family as their needs continue to unfold, we will also be collecting items at our Clayton shop (alongside donations for AliRand and @missionstl) specifically for Pat and Craig’s family:

* Baby wipes

* Size 3T & 4T pull-ups

* Size 4 Pampers

* Toothbrushes & toothpaste

* Soap, body wash, lotion, women’s deodorant

* Toilet paper

* Women’s underwear (3x)

* Women’s tennis shoes (size 9)

* Men’s pants (32x32)

* Men’s t-shirts (medium)

* Men’s underwear (medium)

* Men’s socks (size 9–12)

* Men’s tennis shoes (size 12)

Grocery gift cards—to Walmart, Schnucks, Aldi, or similar—are also appreciated and will help the family care for everyone now staying in the home.

If you or someone you know may be able to help with car window repairs or has a connection in that space, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’d be incredibly grateful.

Every dollar counts, and any share truly helps. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering a donation. Your support—big or small—means the world to a family who needs our help right now.

With gratitude,

Caroline Wideman & the Drybar St. Louis Team