Help Tomiko rebuild after Harvey

We all know the devastating impact Harvey made on so many residents of Houston. Many devastated residents, including my friend’s mother are facing the daunting question of how, when and if they can rebuild. Tomiko Carter lived alone in her humble home on the east side of Houston where the flood waters reached 5 feet in her home. Tomiko is in her 80’s and rebuilding a new place to call home is difficult on a limited income.

Tomiko has endured more than a flood in her lifetime. She is a survivor of the devastating Battle of Okinawa during WWII. It left her homeland flattened and her village torn apart. She has overcome so many other difficulties over the course of her lifetime but eventually found peace in her home in Houston where she could tend to her small garden of Okinawan vegetables and fruits, babysit her grandchildren, and read her Japanese books and watch her Japanese movies she has collected over the years.

The flooding was so extensive that she is required to gut her entire home. The majority of the dry wall has already been taken out and expenses for the initial clean-up process has been quite high in just the first week. All her books, her beloved garden, kimonos, nearly all her furniture, and all major appliances were destroyed. The insurance adjusters are so backed up that they cannot even get to her until close to October so she will be living out of a small suitcase of a few clothes she could salvage until then.

Many people are affected by Harvey across Texas and Louisiana and the monsoon flooding in India too so you are encouraged to give to reputable organizations. But if you are interested in helping a specific individual and feel moved to help Tomiko start rebuilding, please donate below.