Rebuild a Life: Help Blue Recover from Hurricane Helene

On September 27th, Hurricane Helene tore through our Asheville, North Carolina community, leaving devastation in its wake. My dear friend Blue lost everything – his home (a camper), his motorcycle, his car, and his entire storage unit full of belongings. Since then, he has been doing Search and Rescue and recovery support from a church in one of the more remote mountain communities where the hurricane hit hardest.

As a former military Coast Guard (honorably discharged), Blue has the training to protect and serve the people who need it most, and he has been working tirelessly to locate, assist, and rescue citizens who have been stranded in the mountains. He has put his own needs aside from the beginning of this disaster. Now we have the opportunity to help him have some of his own needs met too.

On the way down the mountain we stopped at the site where his home used to be and he described the scene for me:

"Our little creek turned into a full-fledged, raging river. I grabbed a few personal belongings and carried Jasper (my cat) overhead as we slogged through chest-deep water, feet sinking in the mud. My neighbors wanted to go to a cabin downstream but it was unsafe and we may not have survived...

As the river raged harder, we were hit with a landslide. I'm grateful for my military training because I knew exactly what to do and moved into action. I led us all up the mountainside, as there was nowhere else to go.

A few hours later the water had subsided enough for us to head down and rescue a woman from her home. It had come floating down the river from about a mile away and crashed into an embankment in the middle of our community.

Surprisingly, we all survived. Many others just downstream from us were not so lucky "

While we know so many have lost so much, we would like to support our friend so he can continue to help the community he cares about. And while luckily Blue's insurance will cover some of the major losses, his coverage will be nowhere near the actual amount and falls far short of what's needed to truly rebuild his life.

Blue isn't just facing financial losses. Irreplaceable family heirlooms, photos, and mementos – a lifetime of memories – have been swept away. These are the things insurance can't replace, the true extent of what Hurricane Helene has taken.

We're reaching out to our community, near and far, to help Blue get back on his feet. Every donation, no matter how small, will go directly towards:

-Covering immediate medical needs and prescriptions

-Helping with transportation costs

-Securing temporary housing

-Replacing essential items like clothing and basic furniture

-Replacing lost photography and studio equipment so he can continue doing his work

Blue has always been there for others in their time of need. Now, it's our turn to stand by him. Your support will not only provide financial relief but also give Blue hope and strength during this challenging time.

Please donate if you can, and share this campaign with your networks. Together, we can help Blue rebuild and recover from this devastating loss.

About me and Blue:

GoFundMe is asking me to share for more information about me, as there are some scammers taking advantage of the situation out here.

My name is Satya Colombo and I'm a writer and coach living in Asheville. Blue (aka John Rodgers) is a photographer and one of my dearest friends here. I've known him for a couple of years and have been consistently moved by his kindness and generosity—he always wants to help out others and does so with a smile. All funds collected will go directly to Blue's account. I'm just setting this up for him because I want him to get the support and love he needs so he can continue doing the good work he is called to do, while also being able to start rebuilding his life.