Like so many in the Houston area, Erika wasn’t ready for the destruction Hurricane Beryl brought. She lost power for a week. All of the food in her fridge and freezer spoiled, and her home even took on water during the heavy rain.
Because of you, her family received immediate assistance to begin their journey to recovery.
Erika lost her mother at 15. At the time, her sister was just 3 years old, and Erika stepped in to raise her. Now, the two live together with their kids. Erika recently fled domestic violence and is in constant fear.
“A lot of things that regular moms do, we don’t do,” she said. “I don’t post on social media. I’m not on it. I don’t want him to be able to locate me or my children. My main objective is to keep me, my sister, and our kids safe.”
Hurricane Beryl was yet another blow to Erika’s struggling family, who were already impacted by the derecho that swept through Houston in May.
“When I tell you we don’t have nothing besides what we have on our backs … it’s horrible,” Erika said, fighting back tears.
Because of you, Erika can still see the light at the end of the tunnel. You gave them food, water, cleaning supplies, and financial assistance to meet their basic needs. Your support is keeping her going through these tough times.
“To have people that are not related to me at all, that don’t know none of my history, to still have the heart to give to me… they let me know my mama is still looking down on me,” she said. “It means a lot.”