Typhoon Mawar Recovery

I am organizing this fundraiser on behalf of the staff of St. Dominic’s Senior Care Home in Barrigada Heights, Guam. The only senior care home on the island, where my sister, Kate Keisling, has been the Acting Administrator for a little under two years.  Throughout the day and night of May 23rd and 24th, 2023, the island of Guam was directly hit by Super Typhoon Mawar, one of the worst super typhoons in modern history. Mawar brought 150+ mph winds and rain to Guam for over 19 hours, tearing through the island and the facility. Funds raised will be distributed to facility staff who have lost almost if not everything they own including their physical homes in some cases. Please share the link for this page with anyone you know who may be able to help.  For more of the story, you can continue reading below for information directly from Kate. “May 25, 2023: I’m struggling to find the words to write this to not only convey the urgency but the sheer devastation we have experienced and the needs of the staff and residents of St. Dominic’s. Thankfully, the 17 staff members and 33 residents that were in the facility when the storm hit all survived. St. Dominic’s is a 60-bed long-term care facility caring for Guam’s low-income elders with nowhere else to go. We are staffed by the most incredible humans, who have dedicated their lives to caring for Guam’s most vulnerable individuals. The building is made up of several different wings. As the storm progressed, we stashed residents in any safe corner we could. We watched and prayed as our windows rattled and broke under the force of the winds. At 7:04 pm on May 23rd, the typhoon winds ripped open our east wing. We were forced to evacuate into the central column of the building. Mawar kept coming. I have 59 staff members. Their homes have been destroyed; lives shattered. The list of needs is endless. We have been in contact with Homeland Security, the hospitals, the Red Cross, FEMA, and the Governor’s Office. We trust help will come, but it will take time as the entire island is also in need of help. With all my heart, thank you for the prayers and encouragement. Thank you for seeing us, hearing our prayers, and your willingness to help piece our lives back together.”