Hollie Davis’s life has been taken over by photos lately. She has been helping families save their precious memories that were damaged by Hurricane Helene’s storm surge. It all started when she was assisting a friend in cleaning out their home.
As they were doing demolition work, Davis came across waterlogged photo albums that her friend didn’t even want to open. She decided to take them home and try to save every single photo. Through research, she discovered that water could actually help in restoring the photos.
Davis shared her findings on social media, and soon, she was inundated with requests from other families in need of help. This is where Carla Wessel stepped in to assist. Wessel explained the process of keeping the photos wet, freezing them, and then safely peeling them apart once they thaw out.
Their mission is to save as many albums and memories as possible. They understand the importance of these photos, especially when there are no negatives available for reprints. The joy of handing back restored photos to families is priceless to them.
The work is emotional but rewarding. Seeing the gratitude on people’s faces when they receive their salvaged photos brings tears to their eyes. Davis and Wessel want to encourage others to join their efforts in saving these irreplaceable memories.
If you need help with restoring damaged albums or want to volunteer, you can reach out to them via email at MomentoRecoveryProject@gmail.com. The efforts of Davis and Wessel have brought hope to families who have lost so much in the storms. Their message is clear: don’t give up on your damaged photos, there is always a chance to restore them.
