Hope for Valerie

Several months ago, a close friend of my boyfriend's family, Valerie, moved to Santa Rosa, California to be closer to her son and his family. With her dog in tow, she embarked on this new chapter in her life. In the early hours of October 8th, along with thousands of other residents in Santa Rosa, Valerie and her dog quickly evacuated the devastating fires that continue to rage in Northern California, wearing only the clothes on her back and a purse. Her home was completely destroyed, and even with homeowner's insurance she is only being given money to cover the cost of a few basics and a hotel to temporarily house herself and her dog. Though nothing will ever replace what Valerie lost in the fires, my wish is that we can restore hope and help Valerie begin again. This campaign is meant to raise money for a Visa giftcard to go towards essential things such as towels, sheets, clothes, etc. Please donate what you can and know that a little bit goes a long way! 

"We speak of the light of reason. I would speak here of the darkness of the world, and the light of———. But I don’t know what to call it. Maybe hope. Maybe faith, but not a shaped faith—only, say, a gesture, or a continuum of gestures. But probably it is closer to hope, that is more active, and far messier than faith must be. Faith, as I imagine it, is tensile, and cool, and has no need of words. Hope, I know, is a fighter and a screamer." -Mary Oliver