Jennifer Garner Pitches In After West Virginia Flooding: ‘My Heart Is Breaking’

Devastating floods have taken a lasting toll on the lands and the people of West Virginia, and while actress Jennifer Garner may not still live in her home state, she does feel affected by the destruction the natural disaster has had on West Virginia. Hoping to make a difference, Garner is pitching in to do what she can to help the state recover from the recent flooding. Jennifer recently revealed what it was like to go back home and see some things irrevocably altered by the flooding.

Jennifer Garner Goes Home To Help Flood Victims

Recent flooding in West Virginia has left 23 dead and destroyed hundreds of homes, leaving many families without their homes, vehicles, and personal belongings, proving that misfortune and tragedy can strike at any moment. Hoping to alleviate some of the suffering created the flooding, actress Jennifer Garner has joined up with Save the Children, a nonprofit organization which seeks to raise awareness for struggling families and raise aid for those in need.

“My heart is breaking for beautiful West Virginia,” Garner said in a statement. “The people of my home state are the most resilient you will find, but the damage caused by the storm and deadly floods has been catastrophic for these families and communities.”

Save the Children West Virginia Director Anna Hardway echoed Garner’s words, as she describes children walking barefoot through contaminated water and traveling in vehicles without car seats, because their families’ own vehicles were either washed away or destroyed by flooding.

Ms. Garner has long been a supporter and a trustee for Save the Children, which provides aid and education in five West Virginia counties. Throughout this crisis, Save the Children has partnered with area high schools to ensure 2,000 children receive the help they need.

“I am relieved to know that Save the Children will continue to be on the ground in West Virginia throughout the cleanup and recovery, to make sure basic needs are met,” said Garner.

One Year Later, Divorce Has Still Not Happened For Jennifer Garner And Ben Affleck

Back home in Los Angeles, rumors still swirl about Jennifer’s separation from Ben Affleck, fueled by the news that, even after one whole year as a separated couple, neither Ben nor Jennifer has filed for divorce. Entertainment Tonight reports that sources close to the couple have come forward to reveal that Garner and Affleck both doubt that divorce papers ever will be filed. It seems they each feel comfortable with the arrangement as it is.

In fact, both Garner and Affleck have revealed that they’re “making it work” as it is now, and if the current arrangement makes each of them happy, why should they choose to stir things up again? Ben has recently referred to Jennifer as “my wife,” while Garner happily refers to the past 12 months as “the year of wine,” implying that they each have become comfortable as friends and in co-parenting their children, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4.

Last year, almost to the day on June 30, 2015, Garner and Affleck released a joint statement in which it was revealed that they had decided to pursue a divorce. While proceedings to end the marriage haven’t gone forward, their sentiments one year ago would seem to express their feelings now in the present, just as sincerely.

“We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding.”

Over the past year, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have been seen enjoying time together on play dates with their children and accompanying one another to more adult functions, including a recent funeral. Adding hope to the possibility of a reconciliation, Garner spoke in an interview about Affleck’s charismatic nature and the way in which Ben’s attention can always lift her spirits.

“He’s the love of my life. What am I going to do about that? I always say, ‘When his sun shines on you, you feel it.’ But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it’s cold,'” Jennifer said. “He can cast quite a shadow.”

While they may have been able to forge a lasting friendship, Ben Affleck seems content to let their current relationship status remain just the way it is.

“We’re good friends and we’re doing our best, and the kids are fabulous and we’re working on our best for them.”

[Image by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images]