Hello!

My name is Bethany, and Melissa is a part of one of my tightest groups of friends. Since meeting her, I have come to admire her love and compassion for everyone around her. She is a helper and will set aside her needs for her family, friends, and coworkers any day. I don't think I've ever heard her ask for help, so when her house was flooded during Ida, our friend group jumped at the chance to help her and her family.

Red Cross has told her that nothing in the first floor and basement is salvageable due to the wastewater that contaminated everything. Her basement flooded completely, and the first floor had about 2 feet of water. All of the appliances are dead.

She has been offered 5 days of hotel stays, but that is not going to be nearly enough. On top of replacing the basic necessities that were contaminated in her house, her and her daughters will need to pay for temporary housing for at least 2 months, water mitigation, clean-up, food/other needs while living in a hotel, and possible relocation in case her house is completely uninhabitable and she can't go back.

There is so much unknown and so much that needs to be done right now, and if we can alleviate ANY of her stress right now, I'd love to be able to do it.

Thank you, all!