Help Colleen and her Family Start Over

Dear colleagues, friends and family,

I am writing on behalf of Colleen (Lerner) Merrill, a dear friend and colleague who lost her home and all of the contents in yesterday's devastating hurricane.

Colleen, her husband Austin, and their one-year-old baby girl, Payton, are safe. They evacuated Bonita Springs to seek shelter inland from the storm. Before leaving, they put everything they could on tables, beds, etc., to get it off the floor. As the photo shows, their efforts were in vain. A neighbor took the one photo they have (shown above) from a two-story house across the street before the worst part of the storm hit. By the time it was over, their home was flooded to just shy of the roof. Given the extensive damage to their home and the entire neighborhood, nothing is likely to be salvageable in their rental.

Colleen is a terrific friend and colleague. At work, she is always positive, reliable and ready to go above and beyond. Notably, she is also the type of person who would be the first to donate to someone else in their time of need.

Please join me to help ensure Colleen, Austin, and baby Payton have what they need to rebuild their home. Thank you in advance for your generosity and kindness.