Holmgren flood fund

We were hit by the flood really hard. Our vehicles that we rely on for transportation to work and for our toddler were submerged. Our bicycles, bicycle accessories, tools, and supplies for my at home business were already developing rust by the time I got them cleaned off only a day after the flood. That's just the monetary items that can actually be replaced if I was smart enough to carry full-coverage insurance, or have a rental insurance policy that would cover flood damage (I've been told that's hard to come by in the Midwest, but you can bet I'll be looking into it now). That doesn't include the boxes of family pictures, the heirlooms from 34 years that have been passed down from our parents to us, the sheer volume of memories that are now sitting on our curb in mud is heartbreaking.

 I am so extremely thankful that we made it out of our complex before the other duplex exploded, I can't imagine how traumatizing that would have been for my girls to experience. We've had amazing support from our friends and family to help us pick up the pieces of this mess, I simply cannot find the words to thank them sufficiently for their loving support.

Those same people who have helped dig us out of the mud, offered a shoulder to cry on, or helped us with a plan of attack through some appreciated advice have also tried to ask us the best way to offer monetary help to us. That is a really hard pill for me to swallow, it's making my eyes well up even typing this right now, but I don't know what else to do. My wife and I need transportation to take care of our family, and if anyone really wants to give anything to help us out I am having a really hard time saying no. I feel like I should be offering something in return, I give great hugs, I love to grill, I've been told I'm ocassionally funny (personally I think that's just my looks), and I'm always there for my friends when they need someone to talk to.

So, that's why I'm starting this GoFundMe. I've never done one before, and I don't ever want to do it again. It made me put a $ amount down to start this page, so I put how much we lost in this flood. I don't expect to even raise a tenth of it, and even the smallest donation makes our hearts swell with joy. I love you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support of my family.