Melissa Raines is an amazing, hardworking, and dedicated woman & mother! She is a single mother of 5 young boys who all attend or have previously graduated from the Lowndes County School District. Melissa is currently a building sub at Westside Elementary School, serving as a long-term sub in a profound life skills classroom, and also a bus driver for the Lowndes District and has been for many years. Melissa has a kind and generous heart and is always there to meet the students with a smile and comforting assurance that each day she will be there to care for them.

On Saturday, February 14th, 2026, she was informed by physicians that one of her youngest son's, who currently attends Lowndes Middle School, had developed a rare viral form of hepatitis due to his body's reaction to the flu. This caused physicians to refer him to Wolfsman Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida for further care for his condition. During the first few days of treatment, the physicians became very concerned about his liver function, which is commonly affected by the virus. He has been receiving around-the-clock care for his condition. He has struggled even holding food down so last night he had to have a feeding tube placed.

While her son has been receiving the care he needs, Melissa has been unable to work or be home to tend to her other two children, who are being cared for by her mother. Melissa is financially still responsible for maintaining not only her monthly financial responsibilities to her family and home but is responsible for covering her own financial needs while caring for her son while he is in the hospital. This includes the simple but crucial needs, such as purchasing her own food each day. Being the devoted mother she is, Melissa has been spending what little money she had to feed herself to purchase the foods that her son typically loves in an effort to keep him eating and to prevent the need for the feeding tube that he inevitably still had to receive. But that is just who Melissa Raines is. She has always been the kind of women who would give all she had to her children or anyone who was in need. And now it is her time of need.

During such a financially strapped time in her life, we are asking any of our one Lowndes family members, who are willing, to please donate towards assisting her during such a difficult time. Even the smallest donation could truly make such a difference for her and her family. We are one Lowndes and one family, and what we have all experienced living in our community is that we take care of our family in times of need! If you find it in your heart to help out Melissa during this difficult time, please make a donation now!! Thank you and bless you all!!