Rebuild Silas and Janelle's home!!!
Donation protected
Janelle's heartfelt words as to what has happend to her family, "It has now been a full week since our tragic house fire turned our world upside down. Recovering is a slow process and I am so happy to be here today to reach out to all of you and say thank you!
About a week ago on Sunday morning at around 5:45 AM we awoke to a room full of thick black smoke from the floor to the ceiling. The only sounds we heard were the dog whining, a very faint alarm from a smoke detector and the distinct crackling of fire. We immediately set our fire
evacuation plan into action and had the three children and two adults out and on the ground within a minute of waking up. About a minute later the room we had just left was completely engulfed in flames.
We lost our beloved pets - RIP Zippy Dog, Mama Kitty and our two Budgies Jack and Jill. We lost a lifetime of belongings and valuable heirlooms, most irreplaceable. We lost our investment and didn't have homeowners insurance in place. But we did not lose one another. We are all recovering from this tragedy with great appreciation for one another and we are just thankful that we survived to live another day. We have felt so much love from our family, our friends, and our community.
I implore you to practice a fire drill. Add additional smoke detectors and test them routinely. Have multiple fire extinguishers readily available throughout your home and know how to use them. Unplug unused electrical items, even if they are not in use they can still have a charge strong enough to start a fire (this is what is suspected to have happened in our case). Back up your pictures and important files online. Get your medical coverage in order. And do not delay on insuring your investments. These are some of the lessons we have learned from this tragedy.
We have high hopes of rebuilding our family home where it stood. The foundation appears to be in good shape and all of the utilities are still in place. It is going to take time, patience, and a lot of hard work. Many of our friends and neighbors have offered to help in the construction. We are so, so thankful for all the love and positive vibes received from all of you. We know that many people have been working diligently to help us by setting up a Facebook page, an account to raise money, and organizing donations of clothes and other items. It is much appreciated. It is hard to find yourself homeless, without any of your belongings, and having to depend on others. The overwhelming generosity and support our community has shown us is very humbling. I want to let all of you know that we really, really appreciate all of your efforts!" Please Share with family, friends, co-workers, etc... every penny adds up. Thank you~
About a week ago on Sunday morning at around 5:45 AM we awoke to a room full of thick black smoke from the floor to the ceiling. The only sounds we heard were the dog whining, a very faint alarm from a smoke detector and the distinct crackling of fire. We immediately set our fire
evacuation plan into action and had the three children and two adults out and on the ground within a minute of waking up. About a minute later the room we had just left was completely engulfed in flames.
We lost our beloved pets - RIP Zippy Dog, Mama Kitty and our two Budgies Jack and Jill. We lost a lifetime of belongings and valuable heirlooms, most irreplaceable. We lost our investment and didn't have homeowners insurance in place. But we did not lose one another. We are all recovering from this tragedy with great appreciation for one another and we are just thankful that we survived to live another day. We have felt so much love from our family, our friends, and our community.
I implore you to practice a fire drill. Add additional smoke detectors and test them routinely. Have multiple fire extinguishers readily available throughout your home and know how to use them. Unplug unused electrical items, even if they are not in use they can still have a charge strong enough to start a fire (this is what is suspected to have happened in our case). Back up your pictures and important files online. Get your medical coverage in order. And do not delay on insuring your investments. These are some of the lessons we have learned from this tragedy.
We have high hopes of rebuilding our family home where it stood. The foundation appears to be in good shape and all of the utilities are still in place. It is going to take time, patience, and a lot of hard work. Many of our friends and neighbors have offered to help in the construction. We are so, so thankful for all the love and positive vibes received from all of you. We know that many people have been working diligently to help us by setting up a Facebook page, an account to raise money, and organizing donations of clothes and other items. It is much appreciated. It is hard to find yourself homeless, without any of your belongings, and having to depend on others. The overwhelming generosity and support our community has shown us is very humbling. I want to let all of you know that we really, really appreciate all of your efforts!" Please Share with family, friends, co-workers, etc... every penny adds up. Thank you~
Organizer and beneficiary
Maitri Edwards
Organizer
Shelton, WA
Janelle Twiss
Beneficiary