Help our family rebuild after devastating fire

On Monday, March 14th my aunt and her 17 years-old twin boys lost everything in a terrible fire in their Yonkers apartment.

One of her sons was in the apartment when he heard a loud explosion coming from the kitchen. When he went to check on what had happened, he was met with a huge cloud of black smoke. Acting quickly, he ran to the fire escape and left the premises. On his way down, he scraped his right arm. The fire department had been alerted and they were on the scene immediately. My aunt and grandmother were on their way to a doctor’s appointment when they were informed of the fire. His brother was in class when it all happened. The fire department did the best they could to contain the fire, but it was so intense, nothing was salvageable. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Thankfully, no one was hurt but all of their belongings are rubble and ashes; everything from important documents and IDs to clothing, shoes, furniture, all gone. My cousins lost their laptops and work/college-required uniforms. All they have left is whatever they had on their person when the fire occurred.

This has been a tough time for our family. My aunt, Yoselin, like so many others, came to the U.S. in search of a better life for her boys. She sacrificed so much to give them more opportunities. She is now a caregiver for my grandmother. As a family, we understand how difficult that transition can be, but we are so proud of how far they’ve all come in such a short time. My cousins, Adony and Yosuel, are both currently pursuing their respective degrees and working part-time. Unfortunately, they now have to start again from zero.

We truly appreciate any and all donations. Words of encouragement and positivity are also welcome. Please continue your support by sharing this page with your network.

And to all the first responders, thank you.

If you are interested in donating clothing, please leave a comment below to coordinate. The twins are men's size medium and large, and 8.5 and 9 in men's shoes. My aunt is 8.5 and medium/large in women's clothing.