Help Susan Rebuild After Hurricane Helene

Susan thought she had done everything to protect her family from Hurricane Helene's wrath. She prepped her house with sandbags and stocked up on water, flashlights, and emergency supplies. As a mother, she has always done everything to keep her children safe. But nothing could have prepared her for what happened next.

When the storm hit, Susan, her son Timothy—a sophomore at Florida State University—and her daughter Courtney, a junior at Plant High School, huddled together with Susan's wheelchair-bound mother.

Water began to creep into their one-story home as the rain poured down. First, it was through the floorboards, then through the walls. The floodwaters seemed endless. Within moments, their entire home was submerged in murky, foul-smelling water.

Susan guided her family to higher ground, perching on couches and beds, hoping the water would stop rising. Then, she bravely decided to cut the power to prevent a fire.

For Susan, faith has always been her anchor. For the past six years, she has devoted her Sundays to assisting with the religious education classes at Christ the King, working alongside Mr. Eric Papp to prepare 8th-grade boys for their Confirmation. But even her unwavering faith has been put to the test.

As the floodwaters swept through their home, they lost everything. Priceless family heirlooms and cherished belongings were destroyed, like a piano that held generations of memories. They are left with little more than the clothes on their backs.

Hurricane Helene destroyed Susan's home, car, and almost every possession her family owned, but it didn’t take away her hope. Susan is a fighter, a woman of deep faith, and she believes in the kindness and generosity of others.

Today, Susan and her family need that kindness. They have nowhere to turn and no way to rebuild without help. This GoFundMe is a plea for support—a lifeline to a family who has lost everything.

Your donation, no matter the size, will help them begin again. It will provide temporary shelter, cover necessities, and eventually help them start to rebuild the home and life they love.

My name is Eric Papp. I live and work in Tampa, and Susan has been my assistant religious ed teacher at Christ the King in Tampa, FL, for years. Here is how she will spend the money:

Buy a used car for $7,000

Rent for three months. 2-bedroom apartment $2,000 x 6 months = $6,000