Hi friends, name is Kristin Maynard and I’m a longtime friend and coworker of Mary’s daughter, Emily. I just wanted to quickly introduce myself as a legitimate person, and the organizer of this GoFundMe to support Mary and her family! 

On Thursday, December 11, an electrical fire started in the kitchen of the home Mary and Thomas shared with their family on Chokoloskee. Everyone made it out safely. No one was hurt, but the home and everything inside was lost.

 The response from the community has been incredibly generous, and we are so grateful for all the donations of clothing and household items. Right now, the most immediate need is finding a safe, stable place to live so the family can move forward and begin settling in with all the support that’s already been given.

 All funds raised will go directly toward move-in costs for a new rental, including deposits and first month’s rent. Any additional funds will help with furniture replacement. If anyone knows of available rentals in the Everglades, Naples, or nearby areas, we would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

 If you have items you would like to donate, we are currently figuring out storage options until they have a new place to call home. Thank you for the kindness and support. It truly means a lot. ❤️