Help Rachel Rebuild After Devastating Fire

At 5:30am on Tuesday, July 30th, my sweet friend Rachel lost her home and nearly everything inside of it to a fire that ignited at the popular bookstore East Bay Booksellers in Oakland. The fire struck Rachel's nearby apartment building while she was asleep, displacing her and only 4 other tenants. Awoken by flames in her apartment, she narrowly escaped the fire with just the clothes on her back, but her apartment and her home for over TEN years, is the only unit that was deemed a total loss - and there is no insurance to cover it.

Rachel is a remarkable musician, songwriter, teacher and artist. For 15 years, she served her community as a music & piano teacher. We met years ago through an ongoing music project, so I get to experience her brilliant mind and heart in action. But more than this, Rachel is an extraordinarily beautiful and peaceful soul. The composure, grace and integrity with which she has handled this situation is both unbelievable and completely inspiring. She's amazing. And this sucks.

She lost so much...her piano, music equipment, stereo systems, computer, artwork, furniture, bed, mattress, electronics, appliances, clothes, kitchenware, and the rest of her possessions that made her home her home. Rachel isn't the kind of person to ask for help, but I will for her and hope that others step up to help her rebuild her life and her home too. Though it could certainly be even more, we think $25,000 will help cover most of it, but ANY amount will help lessen the blow and the financial burden from this traumatic experience. Having experienced narrowly escaping a fire that resulted in a total loss myself, I can share that the loving and generous support from friends, family, acquaintances, and kind strangers helps beyond what words can express. Human kindness truly makes a profound impact.

Please donate what you can - if we could get 5,000 people to donate only $5 each, we would reach our goal amount. Every dollar makes a difference and adds up! Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for your contributions, shares, love and support!!