Donation protected
Hi my name is Mellissa. I am raising funds to help my brother Derrick Nielson replace the things he lost in the devastating motorhome fire. I gifted Derrick a vintage 1979 Ford class C Road Runner motorhome in October 2021, as a way to help him get on his feet. He worked hard to make it a nice home for himself and kept it meticulously clean. On December 30, 2021 Derrick turned off the heaters and went to visit our mother next door when his motorhome caught fire. The fire started due to an electrical problem and the motorhome burned down within 5-7 minutes burning everything he owned inside. He only realized the fire started when there was a loud explosion about 6:30am.
He lost his identification, clothes, shoes, winter clothes, bedding, all his hobbies, skateboards, skate shoes, art collections, phone... everything.
Derrick has struggled with severe depression his whole life, and this event has been unmistakably unbearable for him. He is beginning this week to work with counselors to get physical, mental and emotional support. However, this is a devastating catastrophe for him. It is my goal to help him replace some of the things he lost and use the extra money to find a place to live, offering additional support for his mental and emotional challenges. I know he loved his little home, he thanked me repeatedly and worked hard to understand the mechanics of it, while making plans for the future in it.
If you have ever met my brother you would agree that he is a fun guy that enjoys a good laugh, entertainment, and physical challenges. He is an avid skateboarder and a talented musician on guitar, drums and vocals. He has composed several of his own songs, and hopes to one day have them recorded. He is also a talented artist. One of the coping mechanisms to dealing with his depression is his art and music. He spends a lot of time using makers, paints and pencils creating elaborate characters, signs and excellent alphagraphics, often personalizing tags for family and friends. Sadly his extensive collection of art supplies were lost in the fire as well, and his musical instruments have been lost previous to the fire. He has lived in Salt Lake and Tooele, spending the last 10+ years in the small town of Stockton, Utah.
One of the amazing things about Derrick and my mother is their willingness to take people into their home. On many occasions Derrick has invited someone to live with them to help them get back on their feet. Derrick’s friend Jeff and his wife Serria were one of these people. They were living in their own motorhome next to Derrick during the time of the fire, and sadly their motorhome caught on fire and they too lost everything.
I have helped him get basic clothes, but he still needs winter clothes, work boots, shoes, bedding, toiletries, phone, and a place to live. He is currently bouncing around from my house and friends' houses. It is my goal to help him raise enough money to cover the cost of getting the much needed basic supplies and any additional money raised will go toward a new place. I will collect all funds and put them in a savings account until we can find the right home for him. It is our goal to make this happen within 4 weeks, January 31, 2021.
If you are unable to make a donation there are other ways you can help Derrick. He is currently looking for employment and an apartment. He has experience doing construction, chef, telemarketing, retail sales, and is a fast learner. He is looking for a place to stay. If you are aware of anyone looking for a roommate please contact me.
For more information the local media covered the fire at the following links:
I know he wanted a change for his life. It is unfortunate that this is what had to happen for that change but he’s incredibly upbeat to rebuild and would greatly appreciate any support that can be offered…
Thank you!
Organizer
Mellissa Phillips
Organizer
Salt Lake City, UT