free2be damage

Damage at the Free2Be office on Memorial Parkway in Huntsville, Ala. includes a collapsed ceiling from an HVAC unit falling through from the roof. (Courtesy of James Robinson)

After last week's violent storms sent an HVAC unit tumbling through the roof of the new offices of Free2Be, staffers are scrambling to get their counseling services back up and running.

"My priority right now is finding a temporary location for clients because the holidays are one of the most traumatic times of the year for many people," said James Robinson, CEO of Free2Be, a Huntsville nonprofit that offers free counseling and support services, and advocates for the LGBTQ community.

"This is the only space many of our clients have that they know is free from prejudice."

Free2Be just relocated its headquarters in September to an office building on South Memorial Parkway. They had purchased $20,000 in new furniture and office supplies, and many of the computers were fairly new.

"Basically for us, it's a total loss," said Robinson.

Wednesday morning after the storms, Clete Wetli, Free2Be's anti-violence program director, unlocked the office door to find water flowing out and about four inches of standing water inside. He walked through, surveying the extensive water damage, before realizing the electricity was still on.

He got out, they got the power turned off and called the fire department, who also found a gas leak. While the front of the building appears undamaged, there's an eight-foot hole in the ceiling inside where the HVAC unit fell from the building's flat roof. The back wall of the building is bowing inward from the roof's collapse and subsequent water damage, said Wetli.

Robinson and his staff have been fielding calls and making plans. They hope to get back up and running in a temporary space this week.

"They've been devastated," said Wetli of Free2Be's clients who have contacted them. "We've assured them we're still here. We may be meeting in a coffee shop or at a temple or church, but we will be meeting and we're going to take care of you. We're here for you."

Free2Be does have some insurance, said Robinson, "But insurance money does not come overnight and we need our services this week."

Free2Be is accepting donations through its website, free2be.org, and through a GoFundMe page to help provide operating space and supplies. The GoFundMe site has raised more than $2,000 since last week's storms. Donations are tax deductible.

The storm damage couldn't have come at a worse time, said Robinson, as Free2Be expands its services to satellite offices around the state.

"We were about to sign leases for new offices in Montgomery and Mobile, and this is putting a temporary delay in being able to get that finished," he said. "There's a youth group in Dothan that's supposed to start next week. (The loss of the Huntsville office) has had an even bigger impact because I have to now focus on what's happening here."

Free2Be has recently opened offices in Birmingham, Mobile, the Shoals and Montgomery, and has launched youth peer support groups in Dothan and Athens. Services include free counseling for victims of violence, support groups, grief support, mental health services, and public education.

Robinson said he has appreciated the outpouring of support from the community.

"It's been loving, hopeful, and people have donated when they can," he said. "We may have to drink more coffee and work harder, but we will continue to go above and beyond to find a way to help people."