Support Santana's Family in Finding a New Home

Santana Edwards and her two kids are still struggling to find a place to call home after Hurricane Helene destroyed everything they had in Spruce Pine, NC. Several organizations were formed to help, but their situation doesn’t check all the boxes. Please help if you feel led.

Here is their story:

On September 26th we left our home for the very last time. We had no idea that the next day our lives would be forever changed. My two kids and I took our dog, one change of clothing each and the shoes on our feet and phones/chargers. We thought the flood would be mild and maybe get some water in the basement but nothing major. We had planned staying home that night on the 26th but decided to go stay with my mom instead for the night. I was awoken around 6am by the wind thrashing and rain pouring down like I had never seen. Still not thinking much about it I stayed awake until 7am then went back to sleep. When I woke up at 10am it was still raining hard and I still didn’t realize how serious it was until we lost power, internet and cell reception unable to call or text at all. Once the rain stopped, we went to check on our property and found that nothing was left of our house. My son found one piece of his PC and a broken lava lamp and all that was left was the concrete basement floor and the bottom of our chimney. To the right I saw my living room area rug torn on a tree covered in mud and our welcome mat lying by the vinyl siding with our 911 address still attached with a couple of shutters and pieces of the shingles off the roof. That was all we were left with other than memories. All my children’s photos gone. My beloved dog for 9 years urn with his ashes gone. I’m thankful we weren’t there or we too wouldn’t be here to tell our story today. Material things can be replaced but some sentimental things cannot. The worst part isn’t even over. The property was deeded in my brother’s name only therefore we were not able to get help from FEMA or Samaritan’s Purse. I was promised a home would be built for us free of charge, and I only had to find the land to buy. Fast forward a couple of months and then I’m told they cannot build us a home due to not enough funding. I was so down but then another organization stepped up wanting to help us. That also was a no go because they needed funding from Samaritan’s Purse which I couldn’t get. So I decided maybe I would try and buy a house. Not easy for a single mom who makes too much for any help but not enough for a mortgage loan. Then I started looking for a rental but there is nothing unless you can afford over $1,500 a month not counting utilities. We have been blessed to be able to stay in my boss’s upstairs apartment until now, but she is selling it and we have to move by Aug 1st. We still have no beds, no furniture, no appliances, no dressers no kitchen table nothing. We are completely starting over and I am trying my best to stay strong for my kids. We need help more than ever and I feel this is my last hope to get us back on our feet. With any funds raised it will go directly to a down payment on a house or any other necessities. Any little bit we are grateful for and please pray for us as we are trying to get through this difficult chapter in our lives.

Thank you,

Santana, Ascher and Aby