On August 13, 2026, catastrophic flooding devastated Connersville, Indiana. Historic rainfall—reported at as much as 21 inches in the area—caused the Whitewater River to rise dramatically, flooding neighborhoods and leaving many homes a total loss. Among those affected are my sister-in-law, Emily, and her two children, Eli and Ashlynn.
Emily is a single mother who has worked hard for years to provide a loving, stable home for her children. She works for a local credit union and serves her community. For more than 15 years, their house has been home. It is the only home Eli and Ashlynn have ever known. Now, it is gone.
Eli is 15, a high school sophomore, and plays basketball. Ashlynn is 12, a sixth grader who plays softball and loves being active and social. Like any other kids their age, they had bedrooms filled with the things that made their house feel like home—clothes, school supplies, electronics, sports equipment, games, toys, pictures, and years of memories. Almost everything was destroyed.
Starting Over From Nothing
Emily and her children were able to grab only a bag of clothes each and get their pets to safety before they were no longer permitted to return to the area. Furniture, beds, bedding, curtains, computers, laptops, electronics, photographs, clothing, games, sports equipment, childhood toys, and irreplaceable family memories are now buried in mud and water and are considered unrecoverable.
Their home and detached garage were both destroyed. Both structures will need to be demolished and removed, and the property will require extensive excavation and site preparation before anything can be rebuilt.
Even more difficult, Emily did not carry a separate flood insurance policy because their home was not located in a designated flood zone. As a result, the damage and loss of their belongings will not be covered by insurance. This family isn’t simply repairing a damaged house. They must start over.
How Your Donation Can Help
Every donation, no matter the amount, can help Emily, Eli, and Ashlynn take one more step toward having a safe and stable place to call home again. Funds raised will be used for:
- Immediate and long-term housing needs while the family is displaced.
- Clothing and school necessities, including school clothes, work clothes, winter clothing, jeans, sweaters, shorts, basketball shoes, backpacks, and other essentials.
- Demolition and cleanup of the destroyed home and garage, including removal of debris and excavation of the property.
- Rebuilding or purchasing a new home, including a down payment. The equity Emily had built in her home was effectively lost.
- Furnishing their new home, including beds, bedding, bathrooms, furniture, kitchen appliances, cookware, dishes, glasses, and the everyday necessities that turn an empty house into a home.
- Replacing essential items that most of us take for granted but that this family suddenly no longer has.
Please Help Us Help Them
Emily is one of those people who is much more comfortable helping others than asking for help herself. In fact, it took me three separate attempts to convince her to allow us to ask for help. She is an incredibly hard worker, a generous member of her community, and a devoted mother who has done an amazing job raising two active children on her own. She doesn’t like being the one who needs help. But right now, she and her children do.
We cannot replace the memories that were lost, but together we can help Emily, Eli, and Ashlynn build new ones. If you are able to donate, thank you. Every contribution, large or small, will make a difference and all gifts are 100% tax deductible thru this platform.
If you aren’t in a position to give right now, there is another valuable way you can help: please share this fundraiser. Share it with your friends. Share it with your family. Share it with your coworkers, your community, and anyone who might be moved to help. One share can reach someone we would never otherwise reach. The more people who see Emily’s story, the greater our chance of giving this family the support they need to begin again. Thank you for taking the time to read their story, for caring about this family, and for helping in whatever way you can. God Bless you and them.
NOTE: Givetaxfree.org asks for its own support donation when you put your gift amount in. It is a default of 15%, but has a custom amount button as well. Click the custom amount where you will see $0.00 below. You will give a $0 donation to them, but you have to click and enter $0.00 again or it will go back to the default setting.
