Help the Westall's Recover from Hurricane Helene Devastation

For generations, the Westall family has called Burnsville, NC, home. My Mamaw and Papaw, Glenn and Lois Westall, raised raised my mom, Deborah Hoilman here, and they all three raised me here after my dad passed away when I was a toddler. This place isn’t just where we live—it’s where our family has grown, loved, and thrived for as long as we can remember.

On Toodies Creek Road in the Pensacola region of Burnsville, their life changed in an instant. A freak mudslide, triggered by Hurricane Helene, destroyed their home. They were trapped for 4 days, surrounded by devastation—no power, no clean water, no way to call for help. Only through sheer will, and the help of their community, did they escape, climbing over logs and rocks, and crossing a makeshift bridge made of an extension ladder to reach safety.

While they are safe now, they’ve lost everything. Their home, Mamaw’s quilts, my Daddy and Bobby's photos—all the pieces of their life that made it home are gone.

Glenn worked as a mechanic for the State of North Carolina for more than 20 years, and Lois spent decades as a teaching assistant at Burnsville Elementary. Their lives have been dedicated to serving our community—whether it’s sharing food they grew or canned from their garden, helping a neighbor fix something, or volunteering through their church. My Mamaw’s quilts have warmed countless hearts and homes, while my Papaw’s skills as a handyman have been a blessing to friends and family.

My mother, Deborah, has been a nurse for nearly 40 years, caring for others just as my stepdad, Bobby Hoilman, did as a corrections officer until his passing a couple years ago. After Bobby’s death, Mamaw and Papaw moved in with Mom so they could all look after each other.

We’re asking for your help to rebuild their lives. Glenn, Lois, and Deborah have given so much to their community—now we're asking for folks to join our community and help them. Your donations will go directly toward helping them recover and rebuild after this unimaginable loss. They are currently facing needing a new home, clothes, furniture, and more. This GoFundMe is only a fraction of what they lost, but if you know them, getting them to sign off on asking for the help they need right now was like pulling teeth.

Please consider donating or sharing their story. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a difference.