Early on New Year’s Day, at around 5 a.m., Rita woke up to the faint smell of smoke. When she opened her door, she was met with thick smoke filling her apartment and a firefighter racing up the stairs, telling her to leave immediately. She had no time to grab anything other than her purse before fleeing to safety.

Moments later, flames consumed her building. Rita stood outside, watching helplessly as her entire apartment, her first home on her own, was completely engulfed in fire. Everything she had worked so hard for, everything that made her space special, was gone in an instant.

Rita had poured so much of herself into creating a beautiful, welcoming, and comforting home. This wasn’t just an apartment, it was her sanctuary, her independence, and a reflection of herself and all of her hard work. Seeing it all disappear so suddenly has been devastating for her.

Right now, Rita is temporarily staying with her parents, trying to process what’s happened and figure out how to start over. But it’s a long road ahead. She needs to replace everything (clothes, furniture, daily necessities, and the countless little things that made her apartment feel like home.)

As her best friend, I’ve always admired Rita’s resilience, kindness, and strength. She’s the type of person who would never ask for help, so with her permission, I’m asking on her behalf.

How You Can Help

Your support will make a huge difference in helping Rita get back on her feet. Every dollar raised will go directly toward:

Rita has lost so much, but with a little help from all of us, she can start to rebuild her life and regain her sense of normalcy. If you’re able to donate, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If not, sharing this campaign with others would mean the world to us.

Let’s show Rita that she’s not alone and that we’re here to help her through this incredibly difficult time. Thank you so much for your kindness and support.