Support Asheville Sisters' Recovery from Flooding

We're raising funds for two sisters whose businesses have been upended by the recent flooding in Asheville, NC. Edwina Dezeeuw and Benita Gomez, cousins to the Olear family, have lost their livelihoods due to catastrophic rainfall and flooding which occurred as a result of Hurricane Helene. This hurricane tore through the western portion of the state on 9/26-9/27, and already saturated ground overflowed with over 12" of rainfall over 3 days (https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/09/29/helene-carolinas-tennessee-floods-communication-destruction/), collapsing roads and bridges, destroying homes, and devastating businesses.

This GoFundMe is to help these families with essential costs during this challenging time.

Edwina's apartment building was flooded and her family needed to evacuate the city.

Benita's restaurant was flooded and is anticipated to be closed for at least 3 weeks.

This fundraiser is to help provide these families some much-needed cushion for essentials as they get back on their feet and begin the recovery process. These emergency funds will help provide for things like food, rent, fuel, water, and other essentials during this critical time. If you'd like to support the rebuilding of John's glass art studio specifically, you can find a related fundraiser here (https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-restore-ashevilles-glass-art-community).

This fundraiser was set up by Edwina and Benita's extended family and cousins from OH. Funds will be spit between the sisters at their discretion.