Yesterday, a devastating fire in Squirrel Hill destroyed my little sister Nicole’s apartment building and everything she owned. She made it out safely, but she lost almost all of her belongings, furniture, clothes, and personal items. This was her very first apartment and she worked so hard to make it a home filled with love and warmth. Thanks to the bravery of the firefighters, they were able to save a couple irreplaceable treasures, including her scrapbook. But, everything else was lost and unfortunately, she did not have renters insurance, leaving her with nothing to fall back on as she starts over.

Nicole is one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet; she lights up every room she walks into and would give the shirt off her back to anyone who needed it. Now she needs our help as she starts over from scratch. I’m starting this fund to help her cover the immediate essentials: clothing, shoes, and a safe place to stay as well as the long road of rebuilding her life. Every donation, no matter the size, will make a huge difference in helping her find stability and begin to replace what was lost.

This fire has deeply affected many families in the building, and our hearts go out to everyone who lost their homes and belongings. While this fundraiser is focused on helping my sister rebuild, we are keeping all of the other victims in our thoughts and encouraging anyone who is able to support them as well.

If you’re able to give, please know it means the world to us. If you can’t donate, sharing this page will also be an incredible help. Thank you for your kindness and support during this very difficult time.