Homeless on Christmas

Four days before Christmas, my cousin Gerald was putting together a new crib for his youngest baby girl. It was going to be the first night his daughters would both sleep alone sharing a bedroom as sisters. The next morning, three days before Christmas, that bedroom would go into flames along with half of the house Gerald and his wife had recently moved into.

Gerald and I were raised like brothers and sisters in Cap Haitian, Haiti. He and his wife have recently moved to their new home in Port Jervis, New York. They are both hard-working professionals raising a young family-- their two daughters being 2 years and 7-month-old. On December 22nd, three days before Christmas, a fire left them homeless.

It started in the garage. My cousin was home with the girls, his wife was at work. By the time he figured out where the smell was coming from and opened the door leading to the garage, intense flames were pushing through, destroying everything in their path. Though Gerald panicked, he managed to quickly get both girls out of the house. Then he stood there, in the cold, and powerlessly watched the raging fire consume his car and half of his house until firefighters arrived some twenty minutes later.

When I spoke with him that night, his voice was shaken. He was reliving the tragedy as he recounted the unexpected turn of events. Although he expressed extreme gratitude for his daughters’ lives, I can’t begin to imagine the desolation both he and his wife must feel being left homeless with two young children this holiday season amid a resurging pandemic.

As I am writing this, the cause of the fire is still being investigated and it has been mentioned that it will take about ten months to rebuild their home. I immediately felt the need to help. Thinking of all the essentials they will need, however, I quickly realized that whatever I could contribute on my own wasn’t going to significantly impact the urgent need for assistance they are facing right now (warm clothes, baby items, temporary lodging). It is why I decided to start this fundraiser. I know they will humbly appreciate all the help they can get.

So much could have gone worse… We are thankful the fire did not start while they were asleep. We are thankful they escaped the house physically unharmed. We are thankful for the neighbors who showed up and sheltered the girls from the cold while my cousin was waiting for the firefighters, for whom we are also thankful. We are thankful for the friends who graciously opened their homes and provided the family with shelter on Christmas. We are thankful for friends and family who have reached out with words of consolation and prayers. I am glad the girls won’t remember this tragic day. Although Gerald and his wife will remember it, I also know they will remember the kindness and generosity that was shown to them. So, I am calling on your generosity to help me help them financially. Whether you donate or share the story, I am most grateful for you taking the time to hear their story. I wish you all a safe and peaceful holiday as well as a healthy and prosperous New Year.