Hi everyone, my name is Angela, and I’m an active-duty military member and a mom of four. I’m reaching out with a heavy heart because on May 26, 2025, a portion of my home caught fire.

The fire damaged so much. Our garage was destroyed, and the heat even melted parts of the structure. We lost our water heater, both garage doors and the mechanical system that goes with them, the fluorescent lighting, and the frame of the garage itself. All the walls and ceilings in the affected area have to be torn out and replaced. Laundry baskets of clothes were ruined as well as items that are irreplaceable. Even the AC vents are filled with soot and need to be professionally cleaned. It still smells like smoke inside, and I’ve been trying to clean and recover what I can, with the help of some amazing friends.

What makes this even harder is that I didn’t have homeowner’s insurance at the time of the fire—not because I chose not to, but because my mortgage loan was transferred to a new company without anyone notifying me. I didn’t get an email, a letter, or a phone call. I found out through a text message from my new Mortgage company saying there was no insurance on file and that the homeowners insurance provided by my previous lender was not able to transfer over. By the time I started looking for a new policy, I was being quoted $13,000–$15,000 per year because of the lapse and our location in a hurricane zone. It was unaffordable. Unfortunately, this fire occurred while actively trying to find a new insurance company.

So now, I’m left to cover the damage out of pocket while still caring for my four children, balancing rising living expenses, and trying to stay strong for my family.

If you’re able to help in any way, even just by sharing this, it would mean the world to me. Every bit of support brings us one step closer to feeling safe and stable again.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.