Fire Recovery for Lorena, Emily & Mary Annabelle

The Fire

On Thursday, June 8th, a dehumidifier in the basement of Lorena Velez's home malfunctioned and caught fire. The basement, which was Emily and Mary Annabelle's playroom, was completely destroyed, and soot filled the entire house.

The Fall-Out

The fire department sealed the house off, and the mitigation company has estimated between 4 and 5 months to repair their home. Not only did Lorena and the girls have to move out, but also Lorena's two renters would have to find other accommodations. Over the course of a few hours, Lorena lost her home and the rental income that helped her pay her $2,000/month mortgage.

For now

Lorena is staying with her sister, and the girls are spending the summer in Connecticut with their dad. Their cat, Ms. Lady, is in a boarding facility.

Soon

Lorena will need to rent an apartment and make a temporary home for the girls when they return to Atlanta on August 1st. Emily will start 6th grade at Henderson Middle, and Mary Annabelle will begin 3rd grade at Sagamore Hills.

Financial Needs

Lorena's insurance company is slowly assessing the damage, investigating the dehumidifier, and deciding which losses they will reimburse. In the meantime, Lorena must continue paying her mortgage and knows she has lost rental income from her two tenants. Any amount you can donate toward Lorena's mortgage, temporary apartment rental, or rebuilding the girls' lives is much appreciated!

Other Donations

At this time, Lorena does not have anywhere to receive in-kind donations, but we will update this website when Lorena knows her apartment situation and more details about her needs.