On New Year’s night, our neighbors Karl and Lisa experienced a devastating tragedy when their home was lost to a fire. The blaze started when a light in their Christmas tree sparked, quickly engulfing the tree and spreading throughout the house. At the time, Karl and Lisa were at home celebrating with their three adult sons, their two daughters-in-law, and their two beloved dogs. The fire department arrived quickly, but despite the efforts of about 30 firefighters and a dozen pieces of apparatus, the house was completely destroyed by 11:30pm. Two family members suffered burns while trying to put out the flames and were treated and released from the hospital that night. My husband and I rushed out to help, finding Karl on the sidewalk in only his socks, having escaped with nothing but the clothes on his back. The fire department stayed until 3am to board up what was left, but heartbreakingly, the fire rekindled the next morning and burned away the rest of the roof. Now, just days later, Karl and Lisa and their family have lost everything—irreplaceable mementos, keepsakes, and the comfort of their home. Lisa was a dedicated school teacher, and all three boys were part of the drumline at Avon High School. While we cannot replace what is lost, we can come together as a community to give them some financial peace as they begin to rebuild. The funds raised will help Karl and Lisa with lost income during their recovery and provide essentials while they wait for insurance matters to be settled. Our town, Avon, is known as “A Valley Of Neighbors,” and now is the time to show that spirit. Please consider giving what you can to help our dear friends and neighbors. Thank you for helping the Buetow family. Any small financial gift you can give is deeply appreciated.