My name is Cayse Imhoff. I created this GoFundMe on behalf of the Blanton family. They are dear family friends that have lost their home and all their material possessions. Please read their story below.

This August, the unthinkable happened. Water began to rise as Hurricane Debby ruthlessly dumped record rainfalls in the Sarasota, FL area. One area, in particular, was hit especially hard- The Laurel Meadows neighborhood in East Sarasota. According to local news sources and county officials, the flooding and power outages caused a wastewater manhole spill, which contributed to the massive flooding in their community.

The Blanton’s thought they bought their forever dream home when they purchased their house years ago. They carefully selected a neighborhood away from low lying areas, waterways and flood zones. According to flood zone maps, flood insurance was not required. Their dream turned into their worst nightmare as the flood waters began to rise. They fought the water for over 4 hours. Eventually, flood waters buried the inside of their home and all their belongings under 2 feet of contaminated sewage water, amplified by the spill.

Justin, Kelsey and Hayden have lost everything and expenses for debris removal and sanitation are beginning to incur. The Blanton’s are facing significant costs as they are left sifting through the remnants of their home and begin the remodeling process. Funding through FEMA is hopefully on the horizon. Meanwhile, their temporary housing has a finite amount of time for their stay and they need to begin their repairs as soon as possible. Any amount, large or small, will help to alleviate the financial burdens for this hardworking, selfless young family.

I have known the Blanton’s for nearly 20 years. They have always faced challenges with positivity and grace. Hayden was born extremely premature at 26 weeks gestation. He was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. In addition to the financial and physical stress of this disaster, they are emotionally taxed with the care of their young son. Hayden is not able to understand what has happened to their home. They carry a tremendous weight.

The Blanton’s truly are the “give you the shirt off their back” kind of people. Please consider monetarily supporting them during this time. It takes a village. Thank you in advance for your support and generosity.