Help Save Bradenton Beach's Yellow House!

Hello, my name is Cara Long and I never imagined having to do something like this but I’m doing it for one of the most important people in my life, my brother, Chris Miller. Anyone who knows him, knows that his whole life, he has gone out of his way to help others. If anyone ever needed a ride, money, a car, a place to sleep, a meal, anything, he would give the shirt off his back to help not only friends and family but total strangers and never ask for a thing in return. Now, it’s OUR turn to help him.

Chris is a Midwestern kid who moved down to Florida in his 20s, bought his dream house on the beach and transformed it into something that was a symbol to locals and vacationers alike as a true slice of Florida sunshine. His home journey was NOT easy, he worked hard, saved money, worked at the same company in Bradenton for the past 23 years and it took 12 years to turn his dream into a reality and FINALLY finished his beach house just earlier this year. Now, in a rather overwhelming and surreal turn of events, was hit with not one but TWO hurricanes in the span of 2 weeks and lost not only his car to Helene but now his home to Milton and has became the unexpected symbol of hurricane Milton’s destruction, with pictures of his damaged beloved home shared on news agencies all over the country the past 48 hours. We’ve had so many people contact us about how the house brought them joy and happiness when they’d see it on the island and he worked so hard to keep it small, not a mega mansion but fitting of the close-knit Anna Maria Island small town feel and charm. We’re scared and sad to think that people like Chris may no longer be able to afford living on the island after storms like these but with your help, maybe we can lend him a hand to rebuild and keep this piece of the island for the locals.

We know it’s asking a lot - so many people need help right now but if you know Chris, you know every bit he gets will not only help him but those around him, his neighbors and friends because if anyone will pay it forward, it will be him. He hasn’t been able to work since hurricane Helene and and helps care for our elderly parents, who live inland in Bradenton. Every little bit helps, anything you are able to give helps keep this dream alive for him and so many others who’ve grown up on this island and hope to stay in the future. All of the money raised will be put towards immediate living needs and trying to repair his house to make it livable again in the same spot. He’s the 3rd generation in our family to make this community home and we hope you can help him stay there, on the beach with the house and people he loves most!