My name is Mica Harkins and I want to tell you about my incredible friend Jen.
Jen lives on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi with her little flock of rescue ducks and a few chickens, and she is one of those people who gives so much of herself to the people, animals, and places around her. She works hard to care for her communities, support conservation efforts on the island, and educate and connect people in a way that is thoughtful, genuine, and kind.
She also played a huge role in the scholarship project I’ve been working on. We initially connected through a random call I made looking for information on Hilo Bay fish populations. She found out about my project and decided to step in and do what she could to help.
When I needed direction, Jen was there. When I needed information, she was there. When I needed travel hacks, connections, introductions, or someone to bounce an idea off of, she was there. She went completely out of her way to become part of the support network around this project, and somewhere along the way, she also became a really wonderful friend.
Right now, Jen needs some of that support returned to her.
The situation on Hawaiʻi Island has become much more serious since I first started this fundraiser. The island has now been impacted by three hurricanes in roughly a month, along with additional tropical storms.
Jen was incredibly fortunate that her home initially suffered minimal damage. But she lost power, and she has been told it could be months before electricity is restored.
For Jen, losing power also means losing water. Her home relies on a rainwater catchment system and an electric pump for everything—drinking water, showers, flushing the toilet, and basic daily life.
Her newly repaired driveway was also completely washed away during the storms. Then, another storm came through and caused even more damage. A tree fell onto her water catchment system—the only source of water for her home.
Insurance will not cover the damage.
And now, on top of everything else, Jen is facing major repairs to her car. Her control arms need to be replaced, and that repair alone is estimated at $1,300, before the cost of an alignment. Having a reliable vehicle is especially important right now while she is trying to get supplies, access services, and deal with everything involved in recovering from these storms.
Jen is incredibly strong and incredibly humble. She is not someone who would ever be comfortable asking people for help herself—which is part of why I’m doing it for her.
The original goal of this fundraiser was to raise enough to get Jen a solar generator so she could regain some basic power at home, and hopefully have money left over to help repair or replace her water catchment system. Those needs haven't gone away, but they have grown.
I’m hoping we can raise enough to help Jen with the solar generator, water system, car repairs, and the unexpected costs that keep piling up as she tries to recover.
I’m hurting financially myself right now, so I’m going to give what I can. I’m hoping a whole bunch of us doing the same—even if it’s only a few dollars—can add up to something that gives her a little breathing room.
If you have $1 to spare, it would mean something. And if donating isn’t possible, sharing this helps too.
If you’ve read this far, thank you. Truly.
Jen has spent so much of her life showing up for other people, animals, and her community. She was there for me when I needed her, and I would really love to see us show up for her now.
Thank you for every donation, every share, and every little bit of love sent Jen’s way. ❤️
