Help Patty Rebuild after Ian

While my Aunt Pat was working round the clock at the local nursing home, her home in Venice, FL, was ripped apart by hurricane Ian. The lanai walls and roof were shredded, and the carport was crushed. Luckily the core of the house, the trailer itself, is unscathed beyond a couple of leaks in the new roof. What furniture and memorabilia she was able to save has been dried out and pulled inside, stacked and shoved into every spare corner, making the remainder of the home look like "a bad yard sale."

For Northerners who may be unfamiliar with the Floridian "lania," it's like a 3 season porch used all year round. This one was 20% of her living space. Among other things, it was used as a bedroom for my other Aunt Carol, who stays for Patty for three months of the year.

For the three days following the hurricane, Patty was on round-the-clock duty at the Nursing Home. She would race home during her lunch break to secure her home from looters, survey the damage, and pull things from the wreckage. Even as her heart was breaking for what she had lost, she was still thinking of others. She pulled clothes from her own closet to donate others. With the power out, she made sure the food in her freezer got to people in the neighborhood who could grill it up and share with others.

Once she could fully go home, with the help of a good friend, this 66-year-old woman began pulling down walls and cutting up debris. Even if workers weren't overwhelmed helping other people she claims "have it worse than her," she has no insurance to cover the costs and limited income between her part-time job and social security. So she's busting her butt during daylight to do what she can with no idea how or when she'll be able to fix things. To make matters worse, notice has gone out that rent, which she can barely afford already, will be going up at the start of the new year.

It pains me that I can't fly down to help as I did in May when my grandmother, her mother that she lived with and took care of for the final years of her life, passed away. I have no idea what it costs to rebuild a carport, construct and furnish a new lanai, and patch a roof that may or may not be covered by warranty. What I do know is that anything she doesn't use for her own immediate needs, Patty will put towards helping others. My husband and I can help some, but not enough. Whatever you can spare will be greatly appreciated. I'm not a religious person myself, but Patty is. If it means anything to you, I know that she will thank God and praise you in her prayers.

Thank you.