Hi,

My name is June Andrades, and I have been a friend of the Racca family for many, many years.

Friday night, February 21st, around 9:30 PM, what I would consider one of my worst nightmares became a reality for the Racca family. A fire started in the bedroom of Mikey and Taylor, where their dog, Addy, was kenneled inside. Jake heard the fire alarm and acted quickly. He got Addy out, broke a window, and attempted to put the fire out with a hose from outside, but was unsuccessful.

The evening of the fire, it seemed that the majority of the fire damage was contained to the one bedroom, while smoke damage made its way through the rest of the house. However, by Saturday afternoon, the fire continued to smolder and required firefighters to access the house through the roof and fill the home with water, causing the ceiling to cave in. The fire is being ruled as an electrical fire, and the house is considered a total loss. What was not damaged by flames or smoke was then a total loss due to water damage.

While it’s easy to get caught up in the “what-ifs” and all that has been lost, the Racca's are counting their blessings and thanking God that their story didn’t end much differently.

As of now, Michelle, Terry, Mikey, Taylor, Jake, Marissa, CJ, and their 3 dogs are displaced and staying with family and friends while they wait for the insurance process to begin. They made it out alive, with the clothes on their backs, their family and pets by their sides, and their cars in the driveway. While that leaves them with so much to be thankful for, life stops for no one. It is now time to rebuild, and here’s where we come into the picture.

We all know the Raccas—they are resilient, they are tenacious, and they are strong. Asking for help is not something I’ve ever heard them do. I have no doubt in my mind that they will make it through this tragedy, but they need our help! We all know their home has been a home to so many of us over all these years (and if you didn’t, you surely missed out). Let’s help them get back on their feet, rebuild, and recover.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

June Andrades