My Uncle Carl lives on a canal in Venice, Florida, and was hit hard by the recent hurricane. The storm surge caused water to rise all day, eventually reaching knee height in his home overnight. My parents arrived in Venice last night and found the damage worse than expected. They, along with Ryan, will spend the weekend removing sheetrock to start drying things out.

We're hopeful FEMA will help, but we're unsure how much they'll cover or how long it will take. Carl’s house needs extensive repairs to prevent mold, and most of his furniture is ruined. Unfortunately, his beloved Mustang, his only transportation, is also no longer working due to water damage. He lives on a tight budget and doesn’t have insurance on his home or car.

If you’re looking to directly help someone impacted, my family and I would be incredibly grateful. Carl has lived here for years, and like a true Floridian, he refuses to let a hurricane take him down.