As many of you know, Hurricane Milton made devastating impacts here in Florida and has taken a toll on so many families, businesses, and small towns with historic winds and unprecedented flooding.

My name is Colleen Caldarelli and the Wieand family means absolutely everything to me, and I know they do to so many of you. Lisabeth and I moved to Florida in 2012 and have called this beautiful place home ever since. To have your best friend from PA move with you to Florida right after college is simply a dream, and I couldn’t imagine a better best friend. Lisabeth, aka “LB,” who has been my best friend for over 30 years, along with her parents, Ron and Maria, are the kind of family friends we cherish in life. They are always the quickest to help and always encourage those around them to never give up. Ron and Maria moved to Florida in 2015 to be closer to their daughter Lisabeth.

Over a week after Hurricane Milton hit here in the Tampa Bay region, my best friend’s family slowly recognized what was happening. The water levels in their small, tight-knit community of Ridge Manor in Hernando County started to rise. They quickly realized the water wasn’t stopping and that decisions needed to be made quickly. With the help of SO many people and even some strangers, everyone pitched in and moved absolutely everything out of Ron & Maria’s home, including kitchen cabinets, sinks, furniture, and precious memories one wouldn’t want to lose, just in the nick of time. With each passing day the water has continued to rise and has now infiltrated their home.

Over the last few days, Maria has used her voice to reach out to local county commissioners and news channels. She recently appeared on the local news to express the tragedy in her small community.

Even though the future is still unknown, I’d love to help raise money for a loving, caring family who always put effort into everyone around them, always sees the positive in everything, and makes life better for all of us. Any funds raised will be donated to help the Wieand family recover their beloved home, whether it’s supplies, tools, equipment, food, household items, and everything in-between. We all hope Ron & Maria can return to the place they love and adore in Ridge Manor.