Donate to help displaced Wolcott, VT family

Hi!

First of all, thanks for your interest in this cause and for reading this- my name is Amber and I work for Stowe Electric Department in Stowe, VT.

I am asking for your kindness and help to raise much-needed funds for my fellow Stowe Electric Department employee, Patrick. Patrick, his fiancée (Devon), their 3-year-old son (August), cat, and puppy were recently displaced by the recent heavy rain and flooding that affected many parts of Lamoille County, Vermont on December 18, 2023.

Patrick moved from North Carolina to Vermont in April 2023 to lead Stowe Electric Department's newly-formed 'Tree Crew'. For three months- every day- Patrick traveled two hours each way between work and home while he and his family were looking for permanent housing in the Stowe area. Patrick and Devon were determined to purchase their first home and raise their young family in beautiful Vermont. After a few months of navigating the difficult Vermont housing market, they finally found a fixer-upper on the Wild Branch River in Wolcott that they joyously closed on at the end of June 2023.

During the heavy rain and flooding in July 2023, they anxiously watched the Wild Branch rise and encroach on their property. The couple took turns sleeping in shifts and had an evacuation plan in place if the water passed the apple tree- luckily, it never did. Patrick and Devon felt grateful and blessed to have weathered the storm with minimal damage when so many of their neighbors and fellow Vermonters had lost so much.

On December 18, 2023, Patrick and Devon once again waited and watched as the Wild Branch River swelled and came closer and closer to their home. This time, they were not so lucky- they had to evacuate for the safety and wellbeing of their family. They quickly packed up August, the cat, and the puppy and headed to a family member's home in Williston. The following day they returned to their home to find approximately 30 feet of their backyard completely washed away. Their 123-year-old house was now only feet away from the river bank.

Patrick, Devon, and August had been looking forward to celebrating their first Christmas in their new home. However, due to safety concerns, they decided it was best to pack up as many belongings as possible and seek shelter with family. Instead of relaxing and enjoying time with family on Christmas day, Patrick and Devon found themselves discussing their future and the daunting reality that they no longer felt safe living in the home they had worked so hard to purchase.

Stowe Electric employees are asking for your help in raising money for this deserving family.

Unfortunately, they did not have flood insurance, and every 'spare' penny they had was invested into the restoration of their home. Since July, Patrick and Devon have worked tirelessly renovating. They have sacrificed nights, weekends, outings- as well as quality time with each other and their young son- in order to restore their 1900s home into a livable space. They spent every penny they had to purchase this home and start a new life together- both personally and professionally.

The financial burden of their current situation is disheartening:

Patrick and his family are now facing many tough decisions, large amounts of stress, and a burgeoning (unsustainable) financial burden. Unfortunately, the joy of owning their first home has turned into a nightmare and a hardship.

The Stowe Electric team is asking for your help in supporting this family in any way you can.

Any amount that you give will make a difference.

We have set our goal at $250,000 in the hopes of 'buying back' a home that is no longer fit to live in. While this is a huge goal, if we achieve it, we can give Patrick, Devon and August a second chance at a fresh start.

Please help us by sharing this cause with everyone you know and amongst all of your social media platforms.

If you are interested, this article mentions the family and the flooding in Lamoille County: Lamoille Flooding

Thank you for your consideration and support.