Aunt Maryann's California Fire Fund

My deepest thoughts and prayers are for everyone in the Santa Rosa area.  My family just found out that my 90-year-old Great Aunt MaryAnn and her family had to evacuate early in the morning from their home in Santa Rosa, CA in their pajamas leaving everything behind including the chargers to their phones.  When she was allowed to return she discovered that her home had burned to the ground.  I can only imagine how gut wrenching it must feel to lose everything in an instant.  She had lived in her home for almost 60 years with her husband, a retired teacher and artist who was well known in Northern CA.  She also worked as a teacher in the Santa Rosa area.  Her son had moved in with her recently and was able to get them both out safely while the embers from the fire flew onto the roof and nearby trees.  

They are now facing the daunting task of having to start over.  All of the pictures of her 10 brothers (one of which was my grandfather who recently passed away last April) and her immigrant parents burned with the house.  She is the last living sibling.  Along with those keepsakes she lost the artwork and furniture that her late husband Ed had made.  She is understandably lost in her sorrow.  My family and I have decided to start this go fund me page as a way to help her family have a little something to get them back on their feet.  While we know those memories and keepsakes can never be replaced we hope to make the transition a little easier by providing them with some money to help them get some immediate necessities until they can sort out their next steps.  Anything helps and is more appreciated than you know.