07/30/2026
Your donations have been amazing, we were able to hand out quite a bit while we were there to the workers and volunteers! Thank you!
Yesterday, we went to Doty Island to help my son Julian and my daughter-in-law Nicole begin the overwhelming cleanup after the tornado.
What we walked into is something I will never forget.
Their street was one of the hardest hit—gridlocked with families carrying what was left of their lives out of homes with roofs torn away, garages twisted off foundations, and power lines tangled through massive trees. Everywhere you looked was devastation.
Our goal was simple: uncover my daughter-in-law’s car buried under a tree, move it to safety, and clear a path to the house.
With the help of my sister Tracy, brother-in-law Randy, our friend Chris, my son Jess, my Daughter Gabrielle, my granddaughter Nevaeh, Bob, and myself, we cut and cleared debris into the front yard. It was hot and exhausting work, and only the beginning.
Inside the house, broken glass covered the floors. My grandsons’ toys were scattered among the wreckage, and personal belongings were strewn everywhere—reminders that this wasn’t just damage to a house, but to a home filled with memories.
I also listened as my daughter-in-law described how she got my grandbabies, the scared family dog, and herself to the basement in about a minute. Her calm strength in that moment was nothing short of bravery—she knew she had to act fast, and she did.
The moment I won’t forget came upstairs in the attic, where the roof had been completely torn away. I could see the street behind the house, and beyond it, home after home destroyed as far as I could see.
Pictures and videos cannot capture what Doty Island has endured.
To every volunteer, first responder, utility worker, neighbor, friend, and stranger who has shown up—thank you. Your kindness is giving these families hope in one of the hardest times of their lives.
Please keep the residents of Doty Island in your thoughts and prayers. The road ahead is long, but they are strong—and they are not alone.
