As many of my niece Isabel’s friends and family know, Isabel set out on an adventure this summer for an internship at the Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim. Isabel is completing a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Central Washington University, and this summer she was working to complete her internship credits while working at the Grand Canyon Lodge. Jeff moved Isabel, and all of her belongings, down last April.

While visiting Washington last week, she got word that the Dragon Bravo Fire was rapidly approaching the lodge. She was getting updates from coworkers and checking news sources online as she made the drive back to Arizona over the weekend. Last Sunday, she found out that the lodge and many other buildings were lost. Later that day, she heard from a coworker that the building she was living in survived the fire.

Isabel’s brother Alex left for Kanab, Utah on Monday in hopes of making a trip to load up her belongings to bring them home. However, they have not been able to make the trip to the Grand Canyon as the crew working the fire does not believe it is safe enough. Alex and Isabel will be staying in a nearby hotel for another night in hopes that conditions will change. Although there is hope that Isabel will be able to recover some of her belongings before making the drive back home, most of her clothes and other items will have severe smoke damage. Any funds collected will be used to pay for their hotel and gas when they can return to the employee housing, replace clothes, shoes, bedding, personal care items, and more. Any extra money raised will go towards next year’s college tuition as the income from her internship was supposed to go towards that.

The first transfer of funds will be used to purchase a mattress, bedding, and a dresser for Isabel that she has picked out. The second portion will be used for travel costs when she returns to Grand Canyon Lodge. Isabel will be given a check so that she can pay for gas, food, and hotel.

We appreciate anything that you are able to contribute or just the positive thoughts and prayers you have to send her way!