Support Share's Recovery from Hurricane Damage

My name is JoAnn Marzocchi Phillips and I am posting this GoFundMe for my friend of 50+ years and St Mary Academy Bay View Classmate (Class of 1970), Share Stahlbush Friedman, whose property has sustained significant damage due to Hurricane Helene. She has no access to internet and is unable to post this herself. Here is her story:

“Hello! My name is Share. I live on Black Mountain at an elevation of 3500 feet. Damage from the hurricane has halted my telehealth psychotherapy practice and damaged my property and the equipment needed to survive in this remote area of North Carolina. Helene brought 24 inches of rain in the first 24 hours and a deep underground tremor from 90 mph tornado-force winds.

The hurricane downed thirteen trees, five of which fell across the driveway, five more across the road tangled up with overhead wires, and split a utility pole in half. The electrical wiring was splayed across the road such that it barricaded access to the main road. It took a week to chainsaw all the trees and work had to stop when the chainsaw blade failed (there are none to be found locally). It may take a minimum of three more months for Duke Power to repair the damaged utility poles and wiring before power can be restored.

Since there is no power the electric pump for my well has failed and there is NO WATER coming out of the tap! A plumber was called but the roads have been impassable. Each day results in dwindling fuel for my generator and NO WATER! I have had to walk a mile through the woods to a small creek to get water for the toilet. On day 4 supplies were air-dropped to the Broad River Volunteer Fire Department on the mountain and even though roads were barely passable, I was able to get some bottled drinking water. Anxiety due to water scarcity and dwindling propane fuel is overwhelming. Since the cost of propane usage is $25 per day and propane delivery is not expected any time soon. I am desperate to install a non-electric hand pump as a primary part of my well replacement. The quote offered by the plumbing company is $25,000.

My total damage and repairs needed because of Hurricane Helene is estimated at $47,000. This includes the well replacement, private road repairs, chainsaw replacement, delivery of 400 gallons of propane, and replacement of my now inoperable HVAC system.

Please help if you are able. Any and all contributions will be greatly appreciated. Feel free to ignore the request for a tip.

Thank you in advance.

Share Stahlbush Friedman”