Help Rebuild Flood Victims Homes
Hello, my name is Emilee Hughes, a college student living in Roane County, West Virginia. As many of you may know, on June 23, 2016, our state was hit by devastating flooding that destroyed 1,300 homes, leaving thousands of men and women – including children and elderly people – homeless and in desperate need of help. 
I know this firsthand because I live with my 68-year-old grandmother, who is retired and recently widowed, in one of the 18 counties declared a disaster area by the government. On April 11, 2016, my grandfather passed away unexpectedly from a massive stroke, leaving the two of us to care for 16 acres of land and four animals. We thought it couldn’t get any worse, but then it did.
After the flood, we found out that our kitchen had black mold and extensive water damage, which needed to be torn out and rebuilt. Also, the septic system needs dug up and put on “risers.” We went the “FEMA route,” which thankfully gave us $1,300; however, it was not even a fraction of what it would cost to repair the damage. We were left alone trying to figure out how we were supposed to magically obtain thousands of dollars to save our house and our health. We called various contracting companies, WV help lines, and FEMA, which had us going in circles without any solution. Yet, I knew that we were lucky compared to our surrounding neighbors that lost absolutely everything.
I went to help flood victims in worse situations than ours. I went with a small group of independent volunteers from Capital City Baptist church, to house a young mother and her two children who were left homeless after the flood. This small independent group of volunteers is led by Kenny Townsend, a 58-year-old pastor and principal from South Charleston Christian Academy in WV. After witnessing numerous families with small children and many elderly people with little resources living in tents, he’s decided to do everything he can to help flood victims rebuild their lives. He contacted several local and out-of-state construction workers that he knows to help build temporary small buildings for the homeless and rebuild water-damaged homes.
Then something amazing occurred! Their crew of volunteers were our miracle! They tore out our kitchen, killed the black mold off, and are still in the process of helping us rebuild.
Seeing as we were so blessed, I am trying to pay it forward and I need your help.
This campaign is NOT for my grandmother and me. This campaign is to HELP OTHER FLOOD VICTIMS repair or rebuild their homes in Clay, Southern Roane, Newton, and Clendenin, West Virginia. As you can imagine, in a state that has so many left homeless after the flooding, the needs surpass the expenses we have collected thus far.
ALL funds will go toward building materials, construction/labor costs, and housing needs (e.g. beds, dehumidifiers, fans) for flood victims in Clay, Southern Roane, Newton, and Clendenin West Virginia.
The funds from this campaign will be withdrawn and placed into a separate flood relief bank account under Kenny Townsend’s name. He will then take the funds to pay for building materials, labor costs, and housing needs mentioned above. His pledge is to use 100% of everything he receives toward rebuilding and housing flood victims.
The volunteers helping rebuild come from Capitol City Baptist Church in South Charleston WV; Covenant Baptist Church in Monroe, North Carolina; Unionville Baptist Church in Unionville, North Carolina; and Landmark Baptist Church in South Carolina.
Our ultimate goal is to reach $5,000 but anything we receive is greatly appreciated! Please help us give these people a HAND UP, as they try to overcome this devastation and rebuild their lives!
I would like to thank you all in advance and I understand if you are not able to donate. However, I still thank you sincerely for taking the time to read this.
Sincerely,
Emilee Hughes
Here are some photos of the people who have lost their homes and of the volunteers helping them build and rebuild their homes. (As mentioned above) Thank u all ag
