Hi, my name is Sharon and I’m a Florida native. My family still live in Florida. My mother is a public elementary school teacher in Volusia county and my father works for a surveying company in the Orlando area. They’ve always worked hard to provide for my sister and I growing up and now they are in a vulnerable position in need of help. Recently hurricane Ian’s strong winds and torrential rains ravaged Florida and destroyed my parent’s home in Port Orange. The are safe and we so lucky to have survived unharmed. But their home was devastated. A tree fell on the roof and another on my parents truck. Flood waters filled their home destroying most of their possessions, the home’s interior, and their other vehicle. After the storm passed and the waters receded they surveyed the damage, ripped out the carpets and flooring themselves, and started the long process of removing all their destroyed possessions and furniture from their home. Many antiques and family treasures that cannot be replaced hauled into the streets. No working fridge for their food or appliances. While insurance will help them repurchase new furniture, appliances, and flooring the process is a difficult and long one, and there is so much it does not cover like temporary housing, the cost and labor to remove the damaged items from their home, haul away larger items, and a place to store what little that still own while the house is being reconstructed. They are so blessed to have a small camper that was not destroyed as that is where they have been living in the wake of this tragedy. This will be their home in the months they have to carry on with life while trying to rebuild what they can. This tragedy has caused so much emotional trauma and sadness for my parents who now in their 60’s after a lifetime of hard work and saving have had their dream home destroyed. It is very challenging for this generation to accept acts of charity but I hope that even a few small donations can help them replace some of what was lost and get them a few nights in temporary housing nearby where they can have a warm shower a hot meal and a good night’s sleep to regroup.