Rebuilding Mae & Fritzy's Home

 
Hi,

My name is Brittany and I'm raising money to help rebuild my grandparent's home in Key Largo, FL after it was destroyed in Hurricane Irma.

It's about giving each story it's proper light. If a story isn't told in a way that is as compelling as it actually is – the magic gets lost. So I'll do my best with this one. The first visit back was a sight to behold. The tall woods I grew up in – completely flat; and places that had never seen the sun were now completely exposed. The smell and the swarm of bugs was overwhelming. The dock completely gone, metal rods darting through windows and salt water still coming up through the floor. The couches and beds were covered in salt and rotting fish were on the staircase (storm surge). Abandoned cars were completely submerged. Random boats were tossed like toys in people's yards or lodged into what was left of their homes, roofs were gone. All the while, my grandparents who have lived there (where I grew up) for decades and lived through many hurricanes stand smiling, holding hands for a photo, with the same humorous spark I know them to have. My grandfather always making a point to say something offensive in hopes of lightening the mood, and my grandmother laughing.

Some people were lucky with structures still in tact, but my family was not. What most people don't know, is that the large majority places in the FL Keys are not insured, and I don't know *any* locals personally whose places are. I was truly surprised to hear that my grandparents had paid for insurance for 40 years, but because of medical bills, this was the first year that they could not afford it.

I held off on creating a "go fund me" because my grandparents did not want any "hand outs" and they still don't know that I'm doing this. However, FEMA only came through with half of what it costs to make their home, one that they built themselves, livable again. They have been living with extended family, and each one of our family members has taken turns helping with the rebuilding process to cut down on and eliminate labor costs.

Please let me know if you have any further questions, or if there are any other ways you can help! We are so grateful and even a simple note goes a long way <3


TOTAL COSTS (without labor costs): 50K
(See Link Below)
Total Cost Breakdown 

FEMA: 25K

Remaining Costs: 25K