Helping the helper - rebuilding after Florence

My name is Erik Fraser, and I am making this gofundme on the behalf of my boss, mentor and dear friend Deb Schafer. I recently moved back into Wilmington to help Deb with repairs to her home, as well as helping her with her work as a master tile setter and general handy-person.


Deb has always been a strong, independent and self-driven woman, and as such it is very hard for her to receive help (and much more so to ask for it). Despite this, I was able to convince her that her current circumstances more than warrant the aid and generosity of people willing to help. 

Hurricane Florence affected thousands throughout the South East, from power outages to flood damage to fallen trees. Many lost everything, a fact not lost on Deb given her unerring nature of placing the interests of others before her own.
In her eyes, when some have lost all, what right does she have to complain about one measly third of her house being destroyed?

I do not share this opinion, and I cannot stand idly by as such hardship is placed upon not only my friend, but on an integral member of the Wilmington, NC community. 



"This is the worst structural damage from Florence that I have seen in this city." 

These were the first words of the insurance claims agent upon seeing the extent of the damage to Deb's home. A large tree fell during the storm, destroying her kitchen, adjacent laundry room and disrupting the wiring to most of her house. Several other trees on her property were blown over or snapped, indicating a possible microburst or localized tornado.  


Any and all funds generated from this gofundme will go directly to Deb for the materials and equipment she needs to start rebuilding her home.

She has worked in the construction and remodeling industry for over 35 years, enduring the nearly constant misogyny and harassment of a workplace rife with toxic masculinity (all while putting out better work than most). She has the skills and knowledge to take on this rebuild, and little else would make her happier than being able to do it herself.

However, she simply does not have the money to do so. While many people in the construction business go out of their way to charge their customers as much as possible, Deb has always done the opposite.
I have worked with Deb in the past, and have seen first hand the levels of empathy and compassion she has for the elderly, disabled and economically disadvantaged.

I have seen her work to improve the homes and lives of her poorer clients at a price they can truly afford. I have seen her work at a financial loss, and I have seen her take on jobs knowing that this would be the case. She has been a blessing to so many and more, all of whom would otherwise have continued to live in what could only be called squaller. As a result she has lived humbly and well, sharing a modest home with her cats and countless accumulated tools of the trade. 

I call upon all who come across this page to join me in helping Deb like she has helped so many countless others. If you're in the Wilmington, NC area and would like to offer physical help, send me a message. I'll be swinging a hammer right alongside you. 

Otherwise, any and all monetary donations are vastly appreciated. I set the goal at $10,000 after Deb mentioned that should cover most of the roofing and framing lumber, but any amount lower than that will be received with utmost gratitude. And if it should so happen to go over that goal, well, I can't think of many people who deserve it more than Deb Schafer. Regardless of her opinion on the subject.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and if you are unable to donate I would ask you to spread the word to your friends and family.
If nothing else Deb has lived her life with the notion that we are all in this together.
Let's prove it, and pay her back at least a little of what she's already paid forward.