My neighbor lost everything in a house fire!
Donation protected
Friends and family,
I recently accepted a position as a Service Learning Coordinator with a company based in New Orleans. We connect volunteers with communities, families, and individuals in need. Two of my coworkers and I live here in Playa Del Carmen, and our CEO is here this week. This is NOT work related, however my coworkers and I are going to try to help!
On Monday September 23, , the unthinkable happened—the Lopez family (my neighbor) lost everything in a devastating house fire. In just a matter of moments, their home and all of their belongings were reduced to ashes. They believe a gas tank, used for cooking exploded. The first fire truck showed up and didn’t have water in the tank apparently! It took 4-5 minutes for the other truck to show up, and by then the house was gone! Thankfully, the whole family and 3 dogs escaped unharmed, but their lives have been turned upside down. This tragedy has left them without the essentials—clothing, food, furniture, and the personal belongings that made their house a home. They are now facing the monumental task of rebuilding their lives from scratch. 4 children, 3 girls ages 10,7,3, and a baby boy 1, are now without their toys, books, and everything familiar to them. This has been an incredibly difficult time for them, as their safe space has disappeared in the blink of an eye. They have always given their time and energy to support neighbors, friends, and loved ones in need. The dad is a motorcycle mechanic and used to fix bikes on the sidewalk in front of his house. The little girls would push around a shopping cart and collect aluminum cans, to recycle for money. I spoke to the father this morning, and they are staying with a family member, so now they have 11 people in a 1 bedroom palapa! I have offered for them to stay in my condo, but I think they feel like they’d be intruding. I have opened my condo as a drop off center for donations (because the church a block away has a roof, but not really walls, or covered areas to keep stuff dry.) Not to mention, Tropical storm Helene has been pounding down on us the last 2 days! Now, they need our help more than ever. We are asking for donations to help cover immediate expenses such as: - Temporary housing - Clothing - Basic necessities like food and toiletries - Furniture and home essentials - School supplies for the children - The long-term costs of rebuilding their home. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a huge difference as they begin the difficult process of rebuilding their lives. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this page with your network to help spread the word. The road ahead is long, but with the support of our community, we know that they can begin to heal and rebuild. Your generosity, prayers, and positive thoughts are deeply appreciated during this incredibly challenging time. Thank you so much for your support.
With gratitude,
Chad
I recently accepted a position as a Service Learning Coordinator with a company based in New Orleans. We connect volunteers with communities, families, and individuals in need. Two of my coworkers and I live here in Playa Del Carmen, and our CEO is here this week. This is NOT work related, however my coworkers and I are going to try to help!
On Monday September 23, , the unthinkable happened—the Lopez family (my neighbor) lost everything in a devastating house fire. In just a matter of moments, their home and all of their belongings were reduced to ashes. They believe a gas tank, used for cooking exploded. The first fire truck showed up and didn’t have water in the tank apparently! It took 4-5 minutes for the other truck to show up, and by then the house was gone! Thankfully, the whole family and 3 dogs escaped unharmed, but their lives have been turned upside down. This tragedy has left them without the essentials—clothing, food, furniture, and the personal belongings that made their house a home. They are now facing the monumental task of rebuilding their lives from scratch. 4 children, 3 girls ages 10,7,3, and a baby boy 1, are now without their toys, books, and everything familiar to them. This has been an incredibly difficult time for them, as their safe space has disappeared in the blink of an eye. They have always given their time and energy to support neighbors, friends, and loved ones in need. The dad is a motorcycle mechanic and used to fix bikes on the sidewalk in front of his house. The little girls would push around a shopping cart and collect aluminum cans, to recycle for money. I spoke to the father this morning, and they are staying with a family member, so now they have 11 people in a 1 bedroom palapa! I have offered for them to stay in my condo, but I think they feel like they’d be intruding. I have opened my condo as a drop off center for donations (because the church a block away has a roof, but not really walls, or covered areas to keep stuff dry.) Not to mention, Tropical storm Helene has been pounding down on us the last 2 days! Now, they need our help more than ever. We are asking for donations to help cover immediate expenses such as: - Temporary housing - Clothing - Basic necessities like food and toiletries - Furniture and home essentials - School supplies for the children - The long-term costs of rebuilding their home. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a huge difference as they begin the difficult process of rebuilding their lives. If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this page with your network to help spread the word. The road ahead is long, but with the support of our community, we know that they can begin to heal and rebuild. Your generosity, prayers, and positive thoughts are deeply appreciated during this incredibly challenging time. Thank you so much for your support.
With gratitude,
Chad
Organizer
Chad Norris
Organizer
Gainesville, VA