Hedi and Paul Mezei - Rebuiding
Donation protected
Dear Friends - I've set up this go-fund-me account on behalf of our friends Hedi and Paul Mezei. As with many of you, I had the pleasure of working with Hedi at Monsanto - although neither of us are there any longer it was always a great place to start friendships. If you know Hedi you will know that she is a kind and generous soul. The photo on this page is of their home in Ventura, burned to the ground during the Thomas Fire. It is hard to imagine losing your home. It's even more difficult to imagine losing your home during a time when you had no insurance coverage. Through a series of unfortunate circumstances at the time of the Thomas Fire Hedi and Paul had no insurance coverage on their home or belongings. They are also facing Paul's heart surgery which is scheduled for the first week of January.
It is impossible to change these circumstances, and as you would expect they are doing an amazing job of moving forward.
Most of us have no idea what it would be like to be in this situation, but I'm sure we can imagine how natural it would be to withdraw and try to take care of everything on our own. A lifetime of hard work and taking care of oneself and ones family does not go away, and a personal ethic of accountability and pride does not burn away in a fire.
Fortunately they have been able to find a place to rent and are hopeful to get moved in and set up a semblance of a home for Paul to come home to when he is released from the hospital after surgery. But of course they have not a single belonging. The entire community of Ventura County is stepping up, there are shelters and distribution centers and many many avenues of seeking help, but that is actually never as simple as it sounds, and I think can in itself be an invasive, difficult process. If you have tried to access any of these services I'm sure you understand.
Left to their own devices neither Hedi or Paul would ask for help – I had to twist her are a bit to get her to agree to let me set up this page. I help people move all the time and I know the work and cost involved - and that is with people who haven't lost everything in a fire. To set up a home with a starting point of zero can be overwhelming and with no insurance funds to reimburse can border on impossible.
It would be so great if they could get a start on furnishing their home and make a comfortable place to begin the recovery process - both from the fire and from the surgery. Every penny raised will go directly to Hedi and Paul for the purpose of rebuilding their life.
I have had the pleasure of meeting most of you and I am certain that you would appreciate the opportunity to help if it is possible. If you don't know the circumstance then you don't know the need - now that you know the circumstance you at least have the chance to help if you can. Please feel free to forward this link to people you think would want to know.
Thank you for your consideration, and my very best wishes to you and your families for a safe and happy holiday season.
Rebecca Rehberg
It is impossible to change these circumstances, and as you would expect they are doing an amazing job of moving forward.
Most of us have no idea what it would be like to be in this situation, but I'm sure we can imagine how natural it would be to withdraw and try to take care of everything on our own. A lifetime of hard work and taking care of oneself and ones family does not go away, and a personal ethic of accountability and pride does not burn away in a fire.
Fortunately they have been able to find a place to rent and are hopeful to get moved in and set up a semblance of a home for Paul to come home to when he is released from the hospital after surgery. But of course they have not a single belonging. The entire community of Ventura County is stepping up, there are shelters and distribution centers and many many avenues of seeking help, but that is actually never as simple as it sounds, and I think can in itself be an invasive, difficult process. If you have tried to access any of these services I'm sure you understand.
Left to their own devices neither Hedi or Paul would ask for help – I had to twist her are a bit to get her to agree to let me set up this page. I help people move all the time and I know the work and cost involved - and that is with people who haven't lost everything in a fire. To set up a home with a starting point of zero can be overwhelming and with no insurance funds to reimburse can border on impossible.
It would be so great if they could get a start on furnishing their home and make a comfortable place to begin the recovery process - both from the fire and from the surgery. Every penny raised will go directly to Hedi and Paul for the purpose of rebuilding their life.
I have had the pleasure of meeting most of you and I am certain that you would appreciate the opportunity to help if it is possible. If you don't know the circumstance then you don't know the need - now that you know the circumstance you at least have the chance to help if you can. Please feel free to forward this link to people you think would want to know.
Thank you for your consideration, and my very best wishes to you and your families for a safe and happy holiday season.
Rebecca Rehberg
Organizer and beneficiary
Rebecca Rehberg
Organizer
Oxnard, CA
Hedi Mezei
Beneficiary
