At 1:30 on the morning of January 26th, at the height of a historic snowstorm, a three-alarm fire ripped through my sister Barbie’s Winthrop home. Fire departments from Boston, Chelsea, Revere, Everett, and Massport rendered assistance to Winthrop, with seven fire trucks in all fighting a blaze in snowfall totals, freezing temperatures, and subzero windchills not seen by firefighters in 20 years. While blessed to have escaped with her life, Barbie literally left with the clothes on her back, her cellphone, and pocketbook, while her basement apartment filled up with the water being poured on a conflagration above that eventually overtook her unit as well. The house was deemed a total loss and will be demolished. Two days later, Wednesday, January 28th, we gained access briefly and retrieved Barbie’s engagement ring, passport, and a few important papers; but all of her clothes, food, kitchenware, furniture, bedding, computers, books — essentially anything and everything of practical and sentimental value — was lost. Barbie is left with absolutely nothing of her own in the middle of a deadly cold winter. The funds raised will help Barbie replace essential items and support her as she starts over after this absolute nightmare. We are reaching out for help so Barbie can rebuild her life after this devastating loss. Any support will make a difference and is deeply appreciated.