Today we visited Patricia Moreno and her son, Thaddaeus, and presented them with a Bible and a pantry basket and gift card from HEB.
Patricia and her two sons, Thaddeus and Jonah were living along the Guadalupe River on the morning of July 4 when they were jolted awake by someone pounding on their front door, shouting for them to get out because the water was rising. Patricia said she grabbed the first pair of sandals she could find, got the boys up, and rushed out of the RV. By the time they stepped outside, the water was already above their knees.
The family made it to higher ground where their car had not yet been touched by the floodwaters. They got in and drove even farther uphill, but the water kept following them, slowly creeping higher each time they stopped. Finally, the water stopped rising, and they remained in the car, watching it slowly recede. When they were able to return, they discovered their RV had been swept a considerable distance away and pinned against a small cottage. Thaddeus shared that he was especially relieved to see the RV had not turned over, since his room was in the lofted part of it. And in a bit of hard-earned good news, after searching through his belongings, he found that his gaming device had somehow made it through untouched — a minor miracle in the middle of a major mess.
Patricia expressed deep gratitude for her disaster case manager, Sally, whose steady support made a lasting difference for her family. In the immediate aftermath of the flood, Patricia acted quickly—contacting her insurance company within the first 24 hours and securing a new RV so her family would have a place to land. Soon after, Patricia registered with RebuildKerr.org and she was paired with case manager, Sally. Recognizing the financial strain a new RV created, Sally elevated Patricia’s situation to the Community Foundation’s housing team.
From there, the Foundation’s working group stepped in to develop a loan pay down plan that has allowed Patricia to pay off nearly all of the loan she took on to replace the RV. Episcopal Relief & Development, working with the Foundation, also stepped up with a $50,000 contribution toward Patricia’s loan amount. Sally’s role was critical throughout the process—she listened carefully, understood what Patricia truly needed, and made sure those needs were brought forward to the right people. It’s a clear example of how advocacy, paired with action, can turn a difficult situation into a path forward.
“Sally listened to me when everything felt overwhelming and helped me find a clear path forward for my family. I’m incredibly thankful for her support, and for the Community Foundation stepping in to help pay down the loan on our RV. Working with her has meant so much to us.” – Patricia Moreno
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