Support the Welkowitz Keough Family

On the night of July 10, 2024, Julie Welkowitz and her family were rescued by swift boat as flood waters inundated the first floor of their house in Richmond, Vermont. Julie and her children (and Kacy, their dog!) are safe and enormously grateful for the support they have received from their family, friends and neighbors in the days immediately following the flood.

Now they are grappling with the long term impacts this nightmare will have on their lives. They have already lost so much. Both of their cars were destroyed, so many of their belongings are gone and it remains unclear what would be necessary before they could return to their home of 25 years. Their most urgent need is temporary housing. It will allow them the time they need for professionals to assess the extent of the damage and for the family to make a plan that will see them through the difficult journey ahead.

Unlike with the devastating floods that impacted the Richmond, Vermont community a year to the day before, it currently remains unclear whether a federal Disaster Declaration will be forthcoming. This could leave them without the possibility of help from FEMA and related sources. Their personal insurance also can not meet the magnitude of the financial need they are facing.

Please join us in supporting this wonderful family. We want to help them afford a safe and comforting place to live so that they can begin to recover- in every sense of the word.