On a seemingly ordinary day, Will’s life was turned upside down when a tornado touched down, sending a massive oak tree crashing down on his house. “If I would have been home in bed, along with my nieces and nephews, we all would’ve been killed instantly,” Will reflects, still shaken by the thought. Instead, a feeling he couldn’t quite explain led him to his sister-in-law’s house early that morning, sparing him and his family from a tragedy that could have been.
Returning home to see the destruction, Will’s heart sank. “There was this big tree with three more trees on my house,” he recalls, the reality hitting hard. With no homeowners insurance, his initial anger quickly turned to a deep sense of helplessness. Yet, amidst the chaos, Will found a reason to believe that everything happens for a reason.
The aftermath of the storm has been a daily struggle. Currently living with his sister-in-law, Will faces the painful task of packing up his belongings from the wrecked house. “The hardest thing after this happened is going back there and trying to pack stuff… It is very heartbreaking,” he shares, the emotional toll evident in his voice. Despite the support from FEMA, the aid is not enough to rebuild his home, leaving him in a precarious situation.
In this dark time, Catholic Charities West Virginia’s Disaster Services team stepped in, offering a ray of hope. Volunteers helped move his furniture and household items to a storage unit, providing much-needed relief. “Family and love. There is somebody there going through it with you. You aren’t going through it by yourself,” Will says, drawing strength from the support around him.
Will’s journey is far from over. He waits to see what can be done with his damaged house, uncertain of what the future holds. But his resolve is unwavering. “I’m thankful I am still here, it’s something worth fighting for, plus my nieces and nephews, I am doing it for them too,” he declares, his voice filled with determination.
Through the love of his family and the kindness of strangers, Will finds the courage to push forward. “As long as you have it in your heart, you have to keep going. It’s going to be hard but I have my brain set on the future and I can’t let this stop me in my tracks,” he says, a testament to his resilience and hope.
In Will’s story, we see the profound impact of community and compassion, reminding us all that even in the face of overwhelming adversity, we can find the strength to rebuild and move forward. Catholic Charities West Virginia remains committed to supporting individuals like Will, embodying the limitless love of God and the enduring spirit of humanity.
For more information about Catholic Charities West Virginia visit www.ccwva.org or click here to donate.
