Flood Relief for Shelby and Robin Love
Donation protected
On 8/8/20 a flash flood pushed open the door of the basement apartment of Shelby Love, a rising Senior at Mary Baldwin University. Just making it out with her dog, Shelby has lost almost all of her possessions. The apartment took on 5 to 6 feet of water in someplaces. The water destroyed almost everything. Today I found Shelby's mother, Robin, a bit shell shocked trying to sort through mud, mulch, and God knows what-else trying to help her daughter in the only way she could; by scraping muck off her personal effects trying to find something to save.
We had many volunteers show up and help gut the apartment to the studs, spray it down and snow shovel the filth into trash cans to be taken out by hand to dumpsters. At the end of the day what was left was a sidewalk filled with a young woman's damaged sentimental effects and a mother wondering what to do next.
This would be tough enough, but we all know 2020 isn't like that, it won't just leave you alone will it?
Robin was furloughed due Covid from Mary Baldwin where she worked in administration, then the position was terminated.
Her daughter was in that apartment which Robin also was planning to use as an artists studio.
Shelby lost her father a few years ago and many of her remembrances of him were moved in with her along with most of her possessions just a few weeks ago. Shelby was getting ready for her Senior year.
Shelby had been in Japan on a study abroad program when Covid hit and she was forced to come home early.
Since Robin has lost her position at Mary Baldwin they do not know how much Shelby's tuition will be, as she was getting a reduced tuition do to her mother working there.
Shelby has lost her bed, dressers, computer peripherals and most likely her laptop and phone (as they were with her when she was trying to wade out while flood water was rushing in). I personally threw away dozens and dozens of books, make-up, linens, art work, rugs, a mattress...just ..everything.
Attached you will find a few pics of the apt, volunteers, and what we could get out (not necessarily salvage).
Please donate. These ladies need cash, basics like a bed, and leads for a place for Shelby to live and finish her degree here in Staunton.
I take personal responsibility for getting any donations to them.
Matt Garner
We had many volunteers show up and help gut the apartment to the studs, spray it down and snow shovel the filth into trash cans to be taken out by hand to dumpsters. At the end of the day what was left was a sidewalk filled with a young woman's damaged sentimental effects and a mother wondering what to do next.
This would be tough enough, but we all know 2020 isn't like that, it won't just leave you alone will it?
Robin was furloughed due Covid from Mary Baldwin where she worked in administration, then the position was terminated.
Her daughter was in that apartment which Robin also was planning to use as an artists studio.
Shelby lost her father a few years ago and many of her remembrances of him were moved in with her along with most of her possessions just a few weeks ago. Shelby was getting ready for her Senior year.
Shelby had been in Japan on a study abroad program when Covid hit and she was forced to come home early.
Since Robin has lost her position at Mary Baldwin they do not know how much Shelby's tuition will be, as she was getting a reduced tuition do to her mother working there.
Shelby has lost her bed, dressers, computer peripherals and most likely her laptop and phone (as they were with her when she was trying to wade out while flood water was rushing in). I personally threw away dozens and dozens of books, make-up, linens, art work, rugs, a mattress...just ..everything.
Attached you will find a few pics of the apt, volunteers, and what we could get out (not necessarily salvage).
Please donate. These ladies need cash, basics like a bed, and leads for a place for Shelby to live and finish her degree here in Staunton.
I take personal responsibility for getting any donations to them.
Matt Garner
Organizer
Matthew Garner
Organizer
Staunton, VA