On the night of October 15th, tragedy struck when Liz Skillen and her three children lost their home and belongings in a devastating house fire.

Liz and her children were asleep when the fire broke out and quickly spread to the roof. Thankfully, they escaped safely — thanks to her brave 14-year-old, who alerted Liz and carried his younger siblings to safety. They left with nothing more than the clothes on their backs; the children didn’t even have shoes on.

This loss is truly heartbreaking, especially after Liz has spent the past year rebuilding her life. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, but it appears the home is uninhabitable due to a large hole in the roof, extensive smoke, and severe water damage. Nearly everything they owned has been destroyed. Unfortunately, due to the major life changes Liz has faced over the past year, renters insurance wasn’t something she was able to maintain as she started over as a single mother — leaving her with no safety net in this tragedy.

Liz is an incredible friend — the kind of person who would help anyone in any way she could. She’s always just one call away and always has an open seat at her table for anyone who needs it. It’s heartbreaking to see such a kind, generous person facing such an unimaginable situation.

Liz’s three children — ages 14, 7, and 5 — have also been deeply affected. One of her children is on the autism spectrum, and essential equipment and ASD-related items were lost or damaged in the fire, making these sudden and drastic changes especially challenging for the family. As many know, children with ASD thrive on routine — and losing the basics they rely on has made this transition even harder.

We are asking for your support to help ease the tremendous burden Liz now faces as she begins to rebuild her life once again. Any contribution — big or small — will make a meaningful difference in helping her replace essentials, find temporary housing, and provide stability for her children during this incredibly difficult time.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, generosity, and support.

Michelle