Hello.

My friend Irena Aleknevicius, lifelong resident of Timmins, Ontario, (I’m in Toronto), is facing the tragic consequences of a house fire that took place late evening, on Monday, September 2, 2024, causing approximately $40,000 in damages. The basement where the fire started is totally ruined, and having destroyed pipes and wiring, there is no water and electricity. Thick smoke permeated the entire house, leaving black soot on every inch of the main and second floor.

I admire how she is hauling containers of water from a friend’s house to clean. Next, I know she will start repairing what she can. I also know that this will make a negligible difference. She needs professional help to have plumbing, electrical, and structural damages repaired - the bare minimum to return to living in her home. Once she can sleep and cook in her own house, she can slowly repair the rest of the damages as financial means make it possible to do so.

I know how much she is stressing about imposing on her friend for a place to stay in the meantime. She has always espoused an independent and give rather than receive spirit. I could write volumes on how she sacrificed her life choices in order to help her parents and handicapped brother, dear sweet John, who are no longer alive. Not a little here and there, but full-time attendance to their needs and happiness. I am asking on her behalf as I know how much she is deserving!! On this point, she has helped neighbors, strangers, and taken on deserving clients who couldn’t afford to pay when she was running her own business ‘Clutter Busters’. Her short-lived burgeoning business came to a halt due to an accident that in turn led her to disability income. Despite the ups and downs, she has always given big and small, monetarily and by direct tangible ways - a consistent theme all her life.

I am optimistic that God will help her through a community of hands and hearts.

This fire has come at the worst time of her life, when her only child (adult daughter), out of province, is fighting for her life with medical issues. Irena has been helping with those medical expenses whenever she can afford to. It is not easy as a single, senior, on a disability income of only $1100 per month, supplemented occasionally by a tenant. Now a tenant is out of the question, until the house is livable again. It was not possible to maintain house insurance, as you can imagine, under such a small income. I am worried as it is already 5 degrees in the night, and the daytime when she is there will soon be very cold as well.

I humbly request, on behalf of my friend, by any contribution you can afford, to kindly help Irena through this very difficult time.

Thank you, sincerely,

Mytreyi, Bharadwaj

Toronto, Ontario.