Letter to Ocracoke Community

April 9, 2017
To the Ocracoke Community,

My mom and I would like to send a BIG thank you to the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department and all the people who assisted during Thursday’s fire behind the Variety Store at Raul’s residence. Swift movement by all involved kept the fire contained to one residence while other houses and structures were very close by. All of this with a howling wind gusting up to 40 mph. No one was injured during the blaze.

Raul was at work when the structure went up in flames. Physically he is okay but his residence is destroyed and EVERYTHING he owned was lost in the fire. He was left with the clothes on his back.

The outpouring of affection and support for Raul from the community has been tremendous. Sarah Fiore set up a GO FUND ME page on Saturday and in under 24 hours it has raised over $5,000. We put a RAUL FUND bucket at the check stand in the Variety Store on Thursday afternoon and the donations have been simply fantastic. At this point, Raul has received enough clothing, essentials, and household items. Anybody who wants to help should consider a monetary donation at the Variety Store or through HELP RAUL at GO FUND ME.

Raul would like to extend his sincere gratitude to everyone who has reached out to him. He is overwhelmed by the generosity of the community and the compassion of this island and its visitors.

Sincerely,
Tommy & Julia Hutcherson