Help Chris Clark Rebuild After Hurricane Milton

Hello, my name is Branden Nicholson owner of B.N exotics and I’m creating this gofundme for a gentleman and a friend named Chris Clark. Chris lives in Punta Gorda on his property with his wife, 3 daughters and 3 grandkids. They were heavily affected by hurricane Milton with his house getting flooded with a foot of water inside along with damage to his animal enclosures. I showed up days after they’ve already been ripping out flooring, carpet and throwing away countless belongings. 

Although the most valuable thing in his life are his family and animals which were safe, Chris and his home will require a significant amount of work to restore their heavily water damaged home, removing an enormous tree that had fallen, and removing debris that washed into his property during flooding. All of which he has to do by hand because that’s the only option he has. 

It’s important for him and his family to have their home back. Chris is eager to return to doing what he loves. As someone who has got to know Chris over the past three years, I’ve learned some incredible things about him. Chris has taken in countless rescues. In the past he’s helped educate Charlotte county’s elementary schools and 4-H program to teach young kids about reptiles, worked with the rotary, aided Florida Fish and Wildlife regarding Florida's endangered reptiles, and many more incredible programs completely for free and out of the kindness of his heart for over 5 years, helping spread not only his love and passion for animals, but also educating the community. Doing stuff from the kindness of his heart is not unheard of by Chris! Just recently, he donated some of his beautiful captive bred turtles to Nan’s ranch in Lee county. Nans Ranch assists inmates and the community on skills to become employed, teaching ranch hand, farrier opportunities, carpentry skills and many more which in turn reduce recidivism rates. This is a guy who puts his heart and soul into not only his animals but his family. Chris from the early age of 11 years old was forced to navigate the world on his own. He moved to Florida in 1986 working as a bricklayer. After working hard he was able to open up the first ever “Solona Serpent Terrarium inc” in Punta Gorda with Dave Canterbury in the 1990s. Chris has continued to overcome an unbelievable amount of bumps in the road including many hurricanes in the past. He’s always rebuilt and persevered mostly with no one but his 2 hands, whatever scraps he can find to rebuild, and his three precious daughters and wife by his side. Chris is also a legend in captive breeding some of the rarest and most incredible reptiles in the world. He produced the very first Lubino, hybino, flip flop and many more red eared slider morphs. I could go on about the man I’ve come to know. This man has worked for every cent he’s ever made taking help from no one, putting every dollar he’s earned into his animals and family. I think it would be a beautiful thing to lend this man a helping hand for once. Thank you guys!