Help Michael and Christine Rebuild After Hurricane Helene

Dear Friends, Family, and Community,

We are reaching out to ask for your support for two incredible individuals/co-workers Michael Burgin and Christine Troianello, who have tragically had their houses and belongings destroyed from the devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in Swannanoa, NC. The unprecedented flooding has displaced them from their homes, and they are now facing the monumental task of rebuilding their lives from scratch.

The Situation

When Hurricane Helene swept through North Carolina, it brought with it torrential rains, causing rivers and creeks to rise at alarming rates. Two co-workers, Michael and Christine, both long-time residents of Swannanoa, watched helplessly as floodwaters engulfed their homes, leaving behind destruction and heartbreak. What wasn’t swept away by the waters is now ruined by mold and contamination, leaving them with little to no salvageable belongings.

These individuals have lost everything—furniture, clothes, cherished keepsakes, and most importantly, the sense of security that comes with having a place to call home. As they face the emotional and financial toll of starting over, we’re asking for your support.

How You Can Help

The funds raised through this campaign will go directly toward helping Michael and Christine cover essential costs, such as:

Any amount you can give, whether big or small, will make a significant difference in helping them rebuild their lives. If you are unable to donate, sharing this campaign with your network would mean the world to us.

Your support can make all the difference—help them rebuild not just their houses, but their homes and lives.

Here are their stories:

Michael Burgin – Michael and his family narrowly escaped with their lives. As the water from the Swannanoa river flooded their house, he, his son Tony, and his partner Annie retreated to their attic. As they looked for ways to escape the attic, the water continued to rise, and they soon realized they were trapped. Breaking through the roof proved impossible, so they were forced to jump into the water and swim through their house in order to access a rear window. As the space between the top of the water and ceiling narrowed, they took turns diving down under the water and attempting to open the window. Eventually they were able to break a window open, and swim out of the house to the roof.

Thankful to be alive, they stayed on the roof until a good samaritan in a kayak found them – he was able to paddle away and bring back an axe to break into the attic and save their dogs.

Michael and his family have begun the effort to salvage what they can from their home, but are facing an extremely daunting road to recovery.

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Christine Troianello – When the storm hit, Christine made the difficult decision to evacuate, hoping that her home would be safe. She found shelter with family, but was left in a painful state of uncertainty about her home. When she was finally able to get to her home on Tuesday, October 1st, the devastation was overwhelming. Water has seeped into every corner of her home, filling her appliances, soaking the walls and floors beyond repair.

Christine is trying her hardest to save what's left, removing soaked drywall and insulation in hopes that something, anything, can be salvaged. But still without electricity, she’s fighting against time. The water is still there, silently destroying what’s left of the life she built. Every moment of delay brings more damage, more loss.

Please support this effort and show Michael and Christine that they are not alone, and that their community stands with them as they rebuild and recover from this disaster.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, generosity, and support.