Help Renate With Hurricane Devastation In Englewood, FL

Hello my name is Renate “Evangeline”. I’m trying urgently to help raise money for my elderly and recently widowed 81 year old mother Renate, to help with the recovery efforts after she was devastatingly hit with back to back blows from Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Englewood, FL. The storms obliterated her home there.

Where Will The Money Go?

Money raised will go towards helping cover costs of hiring a contractor, demolition, machines, dumpsters, cleanup, removal of concrete slabs and debris, and rebuilding of her home.

My mother is on a fixed income. Financially this is a huge blow. Like many in Florida, she was unable to obtain insurance on the place being that it was an older home built in 1940 and sat at low sea level.

My mother has many health issues she's been struggling to deal with, and has faced many hardships. She has been battling congestive heart failure for 8 years, and just recently became a widow after losing my dad of 57 years of marriage. The whole situation is utterly heartbreaking. She dearly misses my father. I am trying my very best to help her out in every way that I can. I am an only child, and have no siblings to help carry the load.

This past year has been very difficult all the way around. My father passed away of colon and kidney cancer several months ago, and he did not have any life insurance to help cover those costs, as they had cashed it out in order to pay for medical expenses and everyday life. My father was in and out of the hospital on life support several times this last past year. He spent his last three months of life in the ICU, fighting so desperately hard to stay with us. His courage, bravery, and love surpassed anything I have ever seen. Previous to my father’s cancer diagnosis, he had several strokes and was living with dementia. When he began to rapidly decline, I had to pretty much stop everything I was doing to be there for him so he could remain at home where he wanted to be. I started doing jobs with odd hours, like DoorDash here and there, so I could make some money, but by no means are my pockets over flowing. It’s been one difficulty after another.

As you can imagine, cost to clean up and rebuild will be enormous. It will have to come all out of pocket, and neither my mother nor I have that kind of cash. We are trying to figure out a way on how we can do this. You can HELP NOW, with any sized donation!!! It all adds up to bring some relief. We need to resolve this tragedy!

Our house was built in 1940 by the Army Corps Of Engineers, and was one of the old World War II Army barracks used at the Venice Air Force Base. After the war, it was sold off as surplus, and two men brought the barrack down to Englewood, FL, turning it into a home. Sad to see this part of history be lost.

In 1951, my grandfather was the second purchaser of the modest home. My father was just 12 years old at the time.

My father loved the home, and spent a lifetime working so hard to take care of the place and to keep it in the family. He loved the peacefulness, the people, and the fishing Englewood had to offer. Many of my family members uncles, aunts, and cousins all have cherished memories of being there throughout the years, as well my children and I. Some of my family's fondest memories are there. It's absolutely devastating to be dealing with all of this.

My father loved the house so much. He had me make him a promise on his deathbed several months ago, to always treasure, love, take care of the place, and to never sell it. That was one of my last promises to my dad, along with taking care of my mom. However, here I am months later and the house is gone due to the hurricanes. I’m struggling with that terribly, as there was nothing I could do to stop this. Our home in Englewood, means so much to her and me. I plan to still honor my dad’s last wishes the best I can. I might not be able to do anything to bring the house back, but I can still honor him while helping my mother find a way to rebuild something similar, sturdier, and higher up. I am so grateful my dad did not have to witness this tragedy, while here on this Earth. He would be devastated, just as mom and I are now. There are no words to describe the emotions we are experiencing.

My mother and I have taken tremendous hits financially and emotionally. Spiritually, we know by the grace of God, we can find a way to get through this together. If you can find in your heart to donate and/or share this, it would be greatly appreciated. Any amount would be helpful, and would go a long way to helping her out. Your help is very much needed, and together we can do this!

This a photo of my mom and dad about two years ago, just before my dad was diagnosed with cancer. Below is a painting my mom did of the house in 1981.