Help the Hess's recover from Irma

Our lovely friends and former Sedona neighbors (you may remember Neysa from the children's department at the Sedona library) need their community's help. About a year and a half ago, Neysa got her dream job as a teacher at the Montessori school on St Thomas, USVI. The family sold most of their things, packed up their dog and cat, put their car on a boat to the Caribbean, and took a giant leap of faith. Although everything wasn't perfect in paradise (they have faced racism, poverty all around them, and learned to live within the expensive confines of island life), Neysa and the kids have grown and thrived at the Montessori school and the family learned to truly soak up and make the most of all that natural beauty and blue water.

Things were going well for them on St Thomas. Gabe had just auditioned for a big part in the school play, Katarina had lots of friends and a teacher she loved, Neysa was an invaluable addition to their teaching staff.

Then hurricane Irma hit and turned their world upside down. The island is devastated in every possible way. The family endured the hurricane and were left with 3 inches of filthy water filling their rental home. They have not had electricity or running water since (and its estimated that it will take many MONTHS to restore power there). It's extremely hot and muggy and mosquitoes are rampant. There are looters roaming the streets looking for supplies because most of the residents of St Thomas are now homeless. Stacy carries a machete for protection whenever he has to leave the house. The streets are covered in debris and downed power lines making driving nearly impossible. The Montessori school has been badly damaged and most of the students evacuated before the storm. Neysa has no idea when or if her school will reopen...leaving her job and future income uncertain.

Although Stacy (a disabled Army vet) still has his disability check, they will be in dire straights very soon. Their food and water stores are running low and there aren't new supplies to be found yet on the island! They are looking to get onto a fishing boat to Puerto Rico as soon as possible.

The darling Hess family needs financial support to help ease the burden of fleeing St Thomas and to lessen the intense stress that they're enduring. The children have gone through a life-threatening hurricane and are instantly losing their friends and school community. I can only imagine the hell that they're living right now.

Please give what you can to help this sweet family start over after this catastrophic event. They have no idea that I have created this go fund me for them. As soon as the goal is reached, the money will be deposited directly into their bank account and will be used to help them get to their family in Indiana and start life anew. They will be surprised and deeply appreciative when they see how much people care. Thank you. ❤️