Hi all,

This is Lorraine Carter-Larocque and Ashley Eaves Sonnier, two best friends of Fallon Voorheis-Mathews and Fleetwood Mathews. You may have seen our previous Facebook posts requesting donations for Fleetwood and Fallon because they lost their home, car and absolutely everything in the Marshall Fire on December 30, 2021 in Louisville, CO.

This was their house before the fire.. located at 7714 Dyer Rd in Louisville, CO. The front photo is the day they purchased this home in 2018...

This is the house after the Marshall fire. I have put up several photos here, as it is total devastation. They are working with insurance adjusters, but it is a total loss of house, garage, car and everything that was once inside. It is overwhelming to think about, let alone see.

The devastation for so many is very real, and we are SO grateful that our two amazing friends are alive, along with their pets! And yet we know it will be a long, hard journey to rebuild what they have lost.

As friends of Fallon and Fleetwood, Ashley and Lorraine have been coordinating ways to assist both Fallon and Fleetwood in the days, weeks and months to come. But the truth of the matter is that the best way to assist right now is financial help. The insurance process is long, they still have no housing on the Front Range (along with so many others - finding temporary housing that accepts pets is a bear!), and they are working on buying the major things needed to try to get back to work and just live day to day. Note: We are coordinating to drive up some supplies to where they are staying about 2 hrs northwest of the Front Range during the week of January 3rd.

So many people have reached out to Ashley and Lorraine to ask: What can I do? How can I help? And we have an incredible spreadsheet full of offers of support from insurance/legal advice, rebuilding advice to site clean up and more! We also have seen a few articles that we thought we'd share with you as well all work to support them in the days and months to come.

CU-Boulder article on How to Help!:

https://www.colorado.edu/hr/2021/12/31/9-ways-support-friend-or-colleague-who-lost-their-home-fire

From a post on Facebook-- (Not mine- but very helpful info and we wanted to share):

HOW TO HELP VICTIMS OF THE MARSHALL FIRE...(please pass along to others)

We were victims of the Waldo Canyon fire in 2012. After our fire experience I began to compile this list for friends and loved ones on how to help others who lose homes in a fire. I hope it helps some others.

FINANCIAL HELP

1. (Edited) An organization we liked was Samaritan's Purse as they came and sifted our ashes for valuables. Donations to them are good.

2. If you know a family or friends of a family send the money directly to them [This GoFundMe goes directly to Fallon and Fleetwood, as do all donations on Venmo to @Ashley_Sonnier_2019 OR to @inthewingsaerial ]

3. Mail physical gift cards directly to churches in the area with a note that the cards are for victims they meet (do not donate money online via their donation portal).

4. Do NOT give physical stuff like coats, blankets, kitchen stuff, etc. They have no place to keep it as they are moving around for awhile, and they will replace things with insurance funds when they need to.

SUPPORT

1. Be sensitive to the fact that they are in shock. Don't expect much from them.

2. Don't ASK them what they need. They don't know yet.

3. Start making a list from your own ideas and ask them if you can do something specific such as...."Did you have a special pillow that I can go buy for you?" "May I walk your dog for you every day that you are displaced?" "May I organize meals for two weeks", etc.

4. Don't just start dropping off stuff for them unless it's something they asked for. They can't process what to do with it, what they need, etc.

5. Don't drop off meals unless it's asked for it part of an organized meal train.

6. Don't stick around and socialize when you bring meals. They may need to be alone for weeks.

7. Don't minimize their loss with statements like "at least you are safe" or "it's just stuff" or "why didn't you pack that special item" as these feel insulting to the victims.

8. Be patient. They will be in shock/grief/anger and will have PTSD and it will continue on and off for awhile.

9. If you feel helpless and want to help just send a card or note with a plate of cookies until they are able to articulate what they need.

Thanks for your love for them ❤️

Please reach our to either Lorraine or Ashley if you have ideas on how to help them in the weeks and months to come - we have a spreadsheet going! You can find us on Facebook or Instagram.

With love for our amazing friends,

Lorraine & Ashley