Support the Heeres family after Hurricane Helene

In June 2024, Kevin, Jen, Zane, Matteo, Kezia, and Grandma Esther (and their two dogs Comet and Glacier) followed God's call to leave their home, family, and church behind in Michigan and move to Black Mountain North Carolina. They packed most of their belongings into storage units in NC, and have been living in rentals while searching for an affordable home of their own.

On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the southeastern USA. As it traveled up the Appalachian mountains, it unexpectedly dumped 2-3 feet of rain that had nowhere to go except to rush back down the mountains into the valleys -- tearing apart roads, trees, houses, and businesses along the way.

Many of you have seen the pictures and videos -- the areas surrounding Asheville North Carolina were some of the hardest hit. It will take years for the community to recover.

While the Heeres family is safe and their Airbnb didn't flood too badly, their Black Mountain storage units were under 5 feet of water, including sewage. They lost all of their beds, bedding, furniture, and many clothes, toys, and tools.

Praise the Lord, their other storage unit in Asheville -- which contained all of Kevin's pastor office furniture, all of his books and files from 20 years of pastoral ministry, many of Grandma's family photos, and the kids' Playmobile and Legos -- was dry.

Their renters insurance does NOT cover flooding. FEMA will help cover a very small amount of the losses, and so we are asking friends, family, and anyone who knows the Heeres family to consider coming together to financially support them as they begin replacing their items.

Nothing will replace the sentimental items full of memories, but we can still offer help as they get their feet back under them. Please consider supporting this wonderful family, as they continue to be on the ground supporting others in the Black Mountain community.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. -Romans 15:13

(GoFundMe is asking me to share who I am and why I'm starting this fundraiser. My name is Carrie Roer, and I worked in the church office in Michigan alongside Pastor Kevin for 8 years. Their kids and my kids also became good friends. It was hard to see them leave, but I trust God's call and plan for their lives.)