Tarressa & Christopher’s Story

Rebuilding Hope on Family Land

When Hurricane Helene tore through Fairview, North Carolina, it didn’t just wash away houses — it washed away the sense of safety for families like Tarressa’s.

Tarressa’s single-wide mobile home sat property she co-owned with her brother, Christopher. It was her safe haven — a modest, love-filled home where she cared for her two young grandchildren on the weekends. But when the floodwaters came, her home was completely submerged. The structure and everything inside were destroyed, and falling trees crushed her only vehicle. What had once been her place of peace was condemned, leaving her with nowhere to go.

Today, Tarressa lives in a small camper on the same land, without reliable running water. She faces daily challenges — she’s disabled, managing chronic health issues, and doing her best to provide for her grandchildren. Her household income, with help from her children, is just enough to survive — but not enough to rebuild.

There was no insurance to fall back on. Emerge Ministries has stepped in to fill the gap — coordinating cleanup, repairing her camper’s plumbing, and arranging debris removal. But the road to recovery is still long.

Her brother Christopher, who lives on the same property, faces similar hardship. Together, they dream of restoring their land — with a new water well they can share and safe, stable homes where their family can gather again.

Despite everything, Tarressa’s spirit remains strong. “This land is where our family belongs,” she says. “We just need a little help to make it livable again.”

Emerge Ministries is working alongside Tarressa and Christopher’s family to make that happen — one step, one home, one miracle at a time.

To support our efforts in rebuilding the lives of families like this and many others please consider donating to Emerge HERE.