BERRERA FAMILY POST-FIRE ASSISTANCE
Donation protected
My cousin, Tiffany Slowey Barrera, and her husband, Antonio, lost much of their home and belongings in a fire on April 30. They, and their 2 daughters (Luna, 5 years & Lucy, 10 months) got out of the house safely suffering only minor injuries.
They live in Pawtucket, RI and are the owner/operators of The Rhody Hen Cafe.
Until the insurance company settles their claim so they can get their home repaired, they are in limbo staying at a hotel. They are hopeful to get into an apartment soon. Between the pandemic causing them to shutter the Cafe (for now), the fire, and the length of time it'll take to see any funds from the insurance company, they are in financial need. Your help will go towards interim lodging and day-to-day expenses. If you would like to help them, they would be grateful.
In Tiffany's words: "On April 30, 2020 the day started off like every other day. We began with our cup of coffee and got a game plan together for what needs to be done during the day. Antonio, my husband, and I started renovations on our second floor apartment and this was the week that we were finally able to move in. The only thing that needed to be finished was the staining of the hardwood floors and to move our furniture upstairs. By noon we finished the second coat of stain and poly. We were thrilled! We spent the rest of the day with our girls, Luna, (5) and Lucy (10 months).
At 7:00 pm, we were eating dinner, chicken wings, our favorite. After dinner, we cleaned up and got ready for our nightly routine, reading a book in bed with the girls. As I got the girls settled in our bed, Antonio went to brush his teeth and noticed a bunch of fire trucks outside our home. He was very curious as to what was going on. When he opened the first floor porch door, the fires from the second floor porch engulfed the first floor porch ceiling. Antonio screamed for us to leave the house. I grabbed my babies and ran out barefoot. As we ran from the apartment Luna leaped into Antonio's arms from the stairs and at that moment molten metal fell from the second floor and hit Luna in the head. Antonio was able to stop the fire in her hair. Thank God it did not reach her scalp. I had Lucy in my arms and received several burns on my arms from the fire.
My neighbors grabbed my girls for me and took them to their home to keep them safe. By 11:30pm the firefighters were able to put the fire out.
We lost everything on the second floor. The water from the fire went to the first floor and the finished basement. We have severe water damage and smoke damage to the first floor apartment and the basement."
They live in Pawtucket, RI and are the owner/operators of The Rhody Hen Cafe.
Until the insurance company settles their claim so they can get their home repaired, they are in limbo staying at a hotel. They are hopeful to get into an apartment soon. Between the pandemic causing them to shutter the Cafe (for now), the fire, and the length of time it'll take to see any funds from the insurance company, they are in financial need. Your help will go towards interim lodging and day-to-day expenses. If you would like to help them, they would be grateful.
In Tiffany's words: "On April 30, 2020 the day started off like every other day. We began with our cup of coffee and got a game plan together for what needs to be done during the day. Antonio, my husband, and I started renovations on our second floor apartment and this was the week that we were finally able to move in. The only thing that needed to be finished was the staining of the hardwood floors and to move our furniture upstairs. By noon we finished the second coat of stain and poly. We were thrilled! We spent the rest of the day with our girls, Luna, (5) and Lucy (10 months).
At 7:00 pm, we were eating dinner, chicken wings, our favorite. After dinner, we cleaned up and got ready for our nightly routine, reading a book in bed with the girls. As I got the girls settled in our bed, Antonio went to brush his teeth and noticed a bunch of fire trucks outside our home. He was very curious as to what was going on. When he opened the first floor porch door, the fires from the second floor porch engulfed the first floor porch ceiling. Antonio screamed for us to leave the house. I grabbed my babies and ran out barefoot. As we ran from the apartment Luna leaped into Antonio's arms from the stairs and at that moment molten metal fell from the second floor and hit Luna in the head. Antonio was able to stop the fire in her hair. Thank God it did not reach her scalp. I had Lucy in my arms and received several burns on my arms from the fire.
My neighbors grabbed my girls for me and took them to their home to keep them safe. By 11:30pm the firefighters were able to put the fire out.
We lost everything on the second floor. The water from the fire went to the first floor and the finished basement. We have severe water damage and smoke damage to the first floor apartment and the basement."
Organizer and beneficiary
Karen Ogden
Organizer
Farmington, MN
Tiffany Slowey Barrera
Beneficiary