Fire Consumes All

I received a call yesterday, January 3, that all of the residents were being evacuated in my condo building due to a fire. I immediately left my office and came home to find that my neighbor's unit was on fire. I found one of my neighbors, a high school girl, who was home alone. She said that her bedroom was in flames. Neighbors helped to call 911 and within minutes the figherfighters were on the scene.

Once the fire was contained and put out, it was clear that our neighbors lost everything. Our neighbor, who we commonly refer to as "Dad,"  came home, talked to the fire chief and found his daughter. 

"Dad" is a single father with four children. The fear, shock, and heartbrokenness was tangible on his face. 

The fire personell took him upstairs to his home to see the damage and he came walking back out with a small box containting the only things he could salvage.

Their phones were all dead, so the only thing I could think to do to help in that moment was to give them one of our phone chargers. That helped last night, but today they wake up to rebuild. I have come to learn that they could not afford renters insurance and so nothing will be replaced unless purchased.

Funds are needed immediately as they are left with nothing. No toilitries, no school supplies, no clothes, no beds. Everything has been destroyed by the flames and smoke of the fire.

My last words to our neighbor were, "People will come together.  Your children are alive and somehow, some way, you will rebuild."

We are people of abundance. Please consider contributing whatever amount you have to give to a father who is rebuilding a life for his children.

(Update: gofundme has asked that I include additional information to the story for transparency. My name is Jenn and the family receiving the funds are my neighbors in Wallingford, PA. The funds will be used for "Dad" to help rebuild his life with his kids following the devastating fire. This includes material items as well as securing another place to live. At this point, access to the funds has been transfered completely to "Dad" and I do not and will not have access to the funds. While trying to keep some level of privacy, gofundme is holding funds until a name is posted. So for transparency for all of those who contributed and shared, "Dad" is Jim Williams)