On Monday, our Chatham Towne neighborhood in Fairfax, Virginia, was hit hard by what officials are calling a microburst. While many residents suffered damage to their homes, Shanita Haynie was by far the worst impacted. Her home is currently uninhabitable, and she is staying in a nearby motel while her 10-year-old daughter is living with me for the foreseeable future.

Shanita and her family lost all their belongings between the impact of the storm, two trees that fell into their home, and the subsequent flooding from the damage. They are not allowed to go back into their house to retrieve anything and have been told to presume that everything is destroyed from the flooding. The devastation has left them with nothing, and they are facing an uncertain future as they try to rebuild their lives.

The funds raised will go towards purchasing immediate necessities for Shanita and her children. Anything beyond that will help with temporary housing as needed and securing permanent housing in the future. We are so grateful and heartened by the humanity and outpouring of support and love from our local community. It really does take a village, and every contribution will make a difference in helping Shanita and her family get back on their feet.