Hello, my name is Shanna, and I’m setting up this GoFundMe on behalf of my mother.

On Monday, her home in Savannah was damaged by an electrical fire and has been deemed uninhabitable due to heavy smoke damage, ceiling loss, and electrical issues. Her home is fully paid off, but unfortunately, she did not have homeowners insurance.

This past Wednesday, she turned 68 years old. Like many seniors, she had to make difficult budgeting decisions and prioritized her healthcare coverage. At some point after paying off her home, homeowners insurance was never added back. This was something I was unaware of until after the fire occurred.

I live in Atlanta, and as soon as I learned what happened, I came down to cover the roof, board up windows, and help secure the house. I am now doing everything I can to support her recovery while coordinating cleanup and repairs from a distance.

My mother is a deeply community-oriented person. She has always focused on recycling, environmental responsibility, and helping animals in need. She has been involved in animal rescue and rehabilitation for years and is part of the local feral cat community, helping feed and support spay and neuter efforts. She is someone who has quietly given back to her community for a long time.

The immediate goal of this fundraiser is to cover critical first-step expenses, including:

• Licensed electrical work to make the home safe

• Water and roof-related repairs caused by the fire

• Waste removal supplies and bins to clear fire debris and damaged materials

I will be handling as much of the cleanup as possible myself to keep costs down. The goal amount listed reflects initial estimates needed to safely remove debris and begin essential repair, not a full rebuild.

Any support, whether through a donation or sharing this page, would mean more than we can express. Thank you for helping my mother take the first steps toward making her home safe and livable again.

Thank you for reading her story.