Today I’m here to ask you for help.

My name is Karen, I'm a newborn and family photographer based in Lucan Village Co. Dublin.

I am originally from Brazil, more specifically from the south of Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul (South’s big river). I have been living in Dublin for the last 13 years and now my people need my help and support.

The last few weeks, I don’t know if some of you saw in the news, but my state has been devastated and suffering from severe flooding. Around 93% of the state was affected and the images are heartbreaking. Unfortunately the news is not good at all, we are talking about 157 deaths confirmed, 85 people missing and 581 thousand people without homes. Most of them are in families and friends houses that were not affected but 80 thousand people have been relocated to different community shelters. Not enough, this time of the year the temperature drops and the winter starts.

My family was not affected but so many friends and people that I know have lost everything. My heart and my thoughts are with them every single day.

Since the first week of May my state has been supported from all different places in Brazil and abroad. The first stage was to save people, keep them in safe places and have food and clothes to keep them comfortable.

Now we started to get in different stages and that is why I would like your help.

I was supporting one of these shelters. It is a Church Community Shelter located in São Leopoldo City where my friends Roberto and Miriam are working as volunteers. I was talking to them and in a video call I was asking about the kids and how the families are washing and drying their clothes as it still raining and the place is not prepared for that. He explained that they have a sink and they are washing the clothes in the sink but the clothes are taking days to dry and most of the time are stale.

Now that the water is starting to recede, people are returning to their homes. The current need is for cleaning machines and products, and afterwards, to purchase basic necessities to restart their lives.

Please help me to support the families!