
Family Displaced by Almeda Fire
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Maria and I started this GoFundMe for my sister Edith Villa, her kids, and my parents that were displaced by the Almeda Fire that happened in Phoenix Oregon on September 8, 2020. My sister is a single mom if 3. She lived at the Medford Estates in Phoenix Oregon with her kids and my parents. She was at work when the fire started. On her drive home from work she ran into a road block and they told her she wasn't allowed through since a rapidly spreading fire was threatening the area. Her children were at home. She had to park her car and run 2 miles to get to her kids and then they ran the 2 miles back to their car. Fortunately they got out in time. My parents were also at work. The next 2 days were hard since the news was that all of Medford Estates was gone until someone posted a video walking through the mobile home park and miraculously at the very end of the park there were some homes that were untouched by the fire. My sister's home was one of them. We are thankful that 1. My family all got out and no one was hurt in the fire. 2. Their home, pets and their sentimental items can be recovered. The reason for this GoFundMe is to help with the following:
1. Hotel. The insurance paid for 2 weeks of hotel. On Friday September 25th they told her the funds from her insurance had ran out and that she had to leave the next day. She was blessed to find and organization that has continued to pay for the hotel. We don't know how long they can continue to pay. So we hope to have a back up if these funds run out again. My parents have been staying with family members.
2. Meals. Living in a hotel means they are eating out a lot. This is a big added expense for them. Especially with 3 kids.
3. Daycare - this is an expense that my sister didn't have before the fire. My sisters oldest daughter has been watching the kids while she works. After the fire the kids have had a rough time emotionally. They have anxiety and are scared to be away from her. Especially her youngest son. With school starting back up her oldest daughter can't watch the little one and help him so she's going to have to find a daycare for them for some time while she is able to switch her schedule to work nights.
4. While her home didn't suffer damage from the fire the smell penetrated everything in her home so a lot of things may have to be replaced
Furniture, bedding, etc. They have tried to describe the smell when they drive through the mobile home park.
They say it's intense and like nothing they've smelled before. We don't know what the process is at the moment. If and when they can return safely? I know that when they try to cleanup the areas the burned it will probably lift stuff into the air that is unsafe. How long will they be displaced is uncertain at the moment. The insurance company hasn't been very clear. So I'm trying to see if we can find an attorney or someone knowledgeable im these types of situations.
Any donation or resource that you can send is very much appreciated. I want to help lessen the burden and the stress that my sister, her kids, and my parents are going through. Thank you for taking your time to read their story and for any help you are able to do for them.
1. Hotel. The insurance paid for 2 weeks of hotel. On Friday September 25th they told her the funds from her insurance had ran out and that she had to leave the next day. She was blessed to find and organization that has continued to pay for the hotel. We don't know how long they can continue to pay. So we hope to have a back up if these funds run out again. My parents have been staying with family members.
2. Meals. Living in a hotel means they are eating out a lot. This is a big added expense for them. Especially with 3 kids.
3. Daycare - this is an expense that my sister didn't have before the fire. My sisters oldest daughter has been watching the kids while she works. After the fire the kids have had a rough time emotionally. They have anxiety and are scared to be away from her. Especially her youngest son. With school starting back up her oldest daughter can't watch the little one and help him so she's going to have to find a daycare for them for some time while she is able to switch her schedule to work nights.
4. While her home didn't suffer damage from the fire the smell penetrated everything in her home so a lot of things may have to be replaced
Furniture, bedding, etc. They have tried to describe the smell when they drive through the mobile home park.
They say it's intense and like nothing they've smelled before. We don't know what the process is at the moment. If and when they can return safely? I know that when they try to cleanup the areas the burned it will probably lift stuff into the air that is unsafe. How long will they be displaced is uncertain at the moment. The insurance company hasn't been very clear. So I'm trying to see if we can find an attorney or someone knowledgeable im these types of situations.
Any donation or resource that you can send is very much appreciated. I want to help lessen the burden and the stress that my sister, her kids, and my parents are going through. Thank you for taking your time to read their story and for any help you are able to do for them.
Organizer and beneficiary
Maria Torralba
Organizer
Cottage Grove, OR
Edith Villa Martinez
Beneficiary