Hey, everyone, my name is Mel. This GoFundMe is to help my sister-in-law get back on her feet after Hurricane Helene and rebuild a foundation for her future.

Six months ago, my generous and kind sister-in-law Kelly moved into our family home in the St. Petersburg, Florida, neighborhood called Shore Acres. We experienced hurricane flooding with Idalia last year, and we did our best to prepare the house for Hurricane Helene. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, and nearly all of Kelly's belongings were destroyed with over four feet of toxic water inundating the house. Priceless family photos, her childhood vanity, artwork from her world travels, and more cherished items are all gone. But it's a sense security that is the gravest loss. For Kelly, the house represented a chance to put down roots. She had started creating a home where she could host Friendsgiving, bake crazy cakes with her nephew, and find the perfect spot for her Christmas decorations.

We know the future is never guaranteed, but our goal is to provide Kelly with a solid foundation to reimagine what her future can look like. Our family home won't be livable for a long time as it needs to be completely elevated and rebuilt. We found a short-term rental near family where she can spend the holidays and get herself organized after experiencing this traumatic event. Filing insurance claims, navigating federal assistance, finding a new living space, and replenishing her essentials all require time, space, and community support. Here's what your money will help do:

Our St. Petersburg community, and particularly our Shore Acres neighbors, have endured two back-to-back tragedies with Hurricane Helene and Milton. It's hard to know exactly how to help when the need is so great. We are so grateful to have insurance and disaster relief assistance, but it's just not enough to make ends meet. Donating to Kelly and this cause will make an immediate, measurable and impactful difference. If you can't donate, please share!

And you should know that Kelly is incredibly deserving. Here's just one story about Kelly and her generosity: Last year, my husband and I were on our honeymoon in Europe when we got word that Hurricane Idalia might bring record surge to Shore Acres, where we lived at the time. Kelly prepared our house for impact, and then hosted our dog, kiddo and mother-in-law at her tiny apartment during the storm. She was the first to survey the damage when it was safe to return, making that difficult call to us to let us know we had flooding throughout the entire house. She spent the next few days trying to save our belongings and coordinating with contractors to pull up flooring and cut out drywall. She was there when a fire broke out, and she's the one who extinguished it before it could do more damage. She let us stay in her apartment for a week when we returned from our trip, and she helped keep our spirits high during the stressful time in our lives. Now, Kelly is the one in need, and the damage is far greater this time around. Please give generously to help Kelly like she's helped others.