Larson Family Displacement Fund
Donation protected
On Friday, Oct. 9, my furkids and I woke up to a horrifying situation. The apt. unit next to mine was on fire and I only had seconds to get as many cats out with me before evacuating. Was only able to get Princess out, and I had to watch in terror for 20 minutes until the fire department knocked the blaze out and then spend another 90 minutes waiting to get inside to see if any of my 5 other furkids and my 2 fosters were still alive.
Thankfully, they all made it, but with no power, a giant hole in my living/dining room, and a sickening smokey smell permeating every possible area of my 900 sq. ft. unit, we've been displaced to a 200 sq. ft. Ramada Inn. The fosters kitties are in a new foster home and safe, and my 6 furkids are slowing transitioning to the new norm of motel living.
I've had friends ask what they can do to help, and while I won't be meeting with my claims adjuster until early next week, I'm realizing that setting up a new life somewhere else can be pretty spendy. The $470 I received from the Red Cross went quickly - $260 is being used by the motel as a deposit (and they only think I have 2 cats - had to smuggle the rest in), $25 went to getting the fosters set up with new supplies, and another $125 went to new cat beds, toys, litter boxes, food, and a cat tree set up here in the motel room to try and help the furkids in this transition (all of their old beds and trees will need to be scrapped). And I've spent about $40 of my own money having to launder a few clothes from home to make them wearable again - that smoke smell is tough to get out, but it's cheaper than having to buy new things.
As someone who spent time as a volunteer trauma counselor, I'm now walking in the same path many of the people I've helped over the years have walked, and folks, I'll admit, it's pretty tough. I'm not sure what the future will hold for us (if we'll be able to move back, if so when, and if not, where to move to in a city with very low vacancy rates), and transitioning to this new norm of "motel life" hasn't been easy for my cats who are used to having their own turf in a 900 sq. ft. apt.
I'm so blessed that we made it out okay (both my neighbors died from their fire injuries) and that I have renters insurance to help keep up safe in a motel so we're not homeless. I'm sure we'll be okay in the long run, and hopefully, we'll get back to our home or in another home soon. A few of my friends have asked how to help, so I've set up this fund to help me and my furkids during this tough bump in the road. If you'd rather give a gift card to Target (which is within walking distance to the motel) or to some other place, then please reach out to me via my email or Facebook message.
Thank you so much for all your kind words of love and support - I love you all so much!
Thankfully, they all made it, but with no power, a giant hole in my living/dining room, and a sickening smokey smell permeating every possible area of my 900 sq. ft. unit, we've been displaced to a 200 sq. ft. Ramada Inn. The fosters kitties are in a new foster home and safe, and my 6 furkids are slowing transitioning to the new norm of motel living.
I've had friends ask what they can do to help, and while I won't be meeting with my claims adjuster until early next week, I'm realizing that setting up a new life somewhere else can be pretty spendy. The $470 I received from the Red Cross went quickly - $260 is being used by the motel as a deposit (and they only think I have 2 cats - had to smuggle the rest in), $25 went to getting the fosters set up with new supplies, and another $125 went to new cat beds, toys, litter boxes, food, and a cat tree set up here in the motel room to try and help the furkids in this transition (all of their old beds and trees will need to be scrapped). And I've spent about $40 of my own money having to launder a few clothes from home to make them wearable again - that smoke smell is tough to get out, but it's cheaper than having to buy new things.
As someone who spent time as a volunteer trauma counselor, I'm now walking in the same path many of the people I've helped over the years have walked, and folks, I'll admit, it's pretty tough. I'm not sure what the future will hold for us (if we'll be able to move back, if so when, and if not, where to move to in a city with very low vacancy rates), and transitioning to this new norm of "motel life" hasn't been easy for my cats who are used to having their own turf in a 900 sq. ft. apt.
I'm so blessed that we made it out okay (both my neighbors died from their fire injuries) and that I have renters insurance to help keep up safe in a motel so we're not homeless. I'm sure we'll be okay in the long run, and hopefully, we'll get back to our home or in another home soon. A few of my friends have asked how to help, so I've set up this fund to help me and my furkids during this tough bump in the road. If you'd rather give a gift card to Target (which is within walking distance to the motel) or to some other place, then please reach out to me via my email or Facebook message.
Thank you so much for all your kind words of love and support - I love you all so much!
Organizer
Tracee Larson
Organizer
Portland, OR
