Help Michael and Katie!
Donation protected
This afternoon, my brother and sister-in-law's apartment was severly damaged by a fire occurring in one of the other units in their complex . Luckily, Michael and Katie were both at work at the time and do not own any pets; no one was hurt. But some essential items were lost.
Michael graduated from Warren County Community College and from Lebanon Valley College with a degree in music. He uses his talent as a musician and his love of instruments both professionally and personally. He is an active member of his church music programming, participating in services every Sunday and running concert events. He works at Martin Guitar in Nazareth, PA, where he handcrafts instruments for everyday people and celebrities alike. Katie is also a musician, and contributes each week to the music in their church as a cellist, flautist, and vocalist. She is a talented seamstress, and sometimes sells personal projects on Etsy in addition to her work as a professional seamstress. Both Michael and Katie are caring, hard-working people. They've gone through employment struggles and car repair issues recently, and despite it all have been trying to save up for a house. It breaks my heart to see their lives disrupted so suddenly.
While the fire itself did not reach their apartment, there is significant water and smoke damage. The extent of that is uncertain at the moment, but we know that Michael and Katie's instruments - guitars, amps, flutes, trombones, keyboards, etc. etc. etc. - are safe. However, Katie's sewing equipment, supplies, and her supply of items for sale are most likely ruined. Countless other important items - their mattress, couch, other furniture, clothing, keepsakes, etc. - are damaged as well.
This couldn't have happened at a worse time. My mother has been in the hospital since Thanksgiving, leaving my youngest brother and I to care for my physically differently-abled father. Caring for Mom and Dad is taking up a lot of our time right now (something Glen and I take on without complaint), meaning that we have less of it to give to Michael and Katie. We are approaching the holidays as well, meaning that Michael and Katie have no real place to live at their favorite time of the year.
Please help me get them back on their feet, and in turn help the rest of my family in a time of hardship. Anything you can give will be greatly appreciated.
Michael graduated from Warren County Community College and from Lebanon Valley College with a degree in music. He uses his talent as a musician and his love of instruments both professionally and personally. He is an active member of his church music programming, participating in services every Sunday and running concert events. He works at Martin Guitar in Nazareth, PA, where he handcrafts instruments for everyday people and celebrities alike. Katie is also a musician, and contributes each week to the music in their church as a cellist, flautist, and vocalist. She is a talented seamstress, and sometimes sells personal projects on Etsy in addition to her work as a professional seamstress. Both Michael and Katie are caring, hard-working people. They've gone through employment struggles and car repair issues recently, and despite it all have been trying to save up for a house. It breaks my heart to see their lives disrupted so suddenly.
While the fire itself did not reach their apartment, there is significant water and smoke damage. The extent of that is uncertain at the moment, but we know that Michael and Katie's instruments - guitars, amps, flutes, trombones, keyboards, etc. etc. etc. - are safe. However, Katie's sewing equipment, supplies, and her supply of items for sale are most likely ruined. Countless other important items - their mattress, couch, other furniture, clothing, keepsakes, etc. - are damaged as well.
This couldn't have happened at a worse time. My mother has been in the hospital since Thanksgiving, leaving my youngest brother and I to care for my physically differently-abled father. Caring for Mom and Dad is taking up a lot of our time right now (something Glen and I take on without complaint), meaning that we have less of it to give to Michael and Katie. We are approaching the holidays as well, meaning that Michael and Katie have no real place to live at their favorite time of the year.
Please help me get them back on their feet, and in turn help the rest of my family in a time of hardship. Anything you can give will be greatly appreciated.
Organizer and beneficiary
Erin Andersen
Organizer
Oxford, NJ
Michael Gingles
Beneficiary
