My name is Tanya, and I’m reaching out for help on behalf of my sister, Samantha, and her son, Finn. They’ve recently been devastated by the historic flooding in Southeastern Wisconsin, which has left them with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

Samantha is a single mother who has dedicated her life to providing a better future for her son. For over a decade, she worked as a teacher, often juggling a second job just to make ends meet. Recently, she made the brave decision to transition into the administrative field, with dreams of securing a managerial position to achieve a better work-life balance and, most importantly, spend more time with her son.

On the night of August 9th and into the early morning of August 10th, Southeastern Wisconsin was struck by an unprecedented rainstorm, dumping over 10 inches of rain in just 24 hours. By midnight, floodwaters had reached the end of Samantha’s driveway, and within a matter of hours, it started creeping into the first floor of her apartment. In the chaos of the night, Samantha woke Finn, and the two of them scrambled to the second floor, where they spent the rest of the night, huddled together, anxiously waiting for the floodwaters to subside.

Unfortunately, despite their best efforts to protect their belongings, Samantha and Finn lost everything. Within an hour of the water starting to seep into the apartment, everything was under 4 feet of water. The flood destroyed all their furniture, appliances, and many personal belongings, including irreplaceable keepsakes. Though Samantha managed to save a few sentimental items in the chaos, the overall cost to replace everything—from furniture to technology—is overwhelming. We’re looking to raise enough funds to help them rebuild and furnish a new apartment so they can move forward and start fresh.

Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a world of difference in helping Samantha and Finn recover from this unimaginable loss. If you have anything to spare, we ask that you please consider donating to help them get back on their feet. Donations accepted via gofundme directly or Venmo @SamanthaCusick.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support.