Help Sara, Vinny, Henry and Mags Rebuild After a House Fire

Hi, my name is Sara, and I’m a mom to two wonderful twins, Henry and Maggie. Their father is Vicente, aka Vinny. Today, we're reaching out for help—a step I never imagined I’d need to take. Having spent years working in non-profits and helping others in times of need, I now find myself on the other side, looking for a helping hand.

What Happened

On March 26, tragedy struck. After a beautiful evening celebrating a birthday with their dad, I woke up in the middle of the night to the smell of smoke. Our home was on fire. The flames started on the deck before spreading into the kitchen, pantry, and even the attic. Thankfully, my children, Vinny, and I escaped safely. That’s the most important thing, and I’m forever grateful.

However, while only parts of the house suffered direct fire damage, the smoke and water damage left the entire home unlivable. We’ve lost so much—treasured photos, clothing, toys—and now face months of displacement as repairs are made. This comes at an unbelievably tough time, as I was just beginning to recover financially after months away from work due to medical treatments.

The Challenges Ahead

At first, I believed our insurance coverage would pull us through this. But I quickly discovered we were severely underinsured. The $1,000 we received to cover living and food expenses is far from enough to support me and my two growing children—especially here, where the cost of living is so high.

Henry and Maggie, my resilient children, are doing their best to push through these difficult times. Henry’s passion for school, dance, and the world, and Maggie’s art and her strength, particularly as she navigates life as an autistic child, give me hope every day. They’re going to start trauma therapy, and I’m doing everything I can to maintain a sense of normalcy for them, including continuing their extracurricular activities like dance lessons and competitions. But the weight of it all is immense, and despite my best efforts, it’s becoming harder to make ends meet.

How You Can Help

With a heavy heart but unwavering hope, I am asking for your support. The funds raised will go toward:

Temporary Housing: Rent for a furnished apartment or other suitable accommodations while our home is repaired (estimated six months or more).

Clothing: New clothes for Henry, Maggie, and myself to replace what we’ve lost.

Groceries: Food and other household essentials.

Miscellaneous Needs: School lunches, therapy costs, dance tuition, and other day-to-day necessities.

Even the smallest donation makes a difference. Just $5 could cover a school lunch or contribute to Maggie and Henry’s sense of stability during this difficult time.

Why This Means the World

I’ve worked so hard to create a safe, loving home for my kids, and to see it gone so suddenly is heartbreaking. But more than anything, I want to protect Henry and Maggie from further stress and upheaval. Any support you can offer will help us rebuild not just our house, but the feeling of security we all need to thrive.

To everyone who donates, shares this campaign, or sends words of kindness and encouragement, thank you from the bottom of my heart. We are humbled by your generosity and grateful beyond words.

With love and gratitude,

Sara, Vinny, Henry, and Maggie

[Donate Now]

P.S.: If you’d prefer to make a direct donation, $idem22 at Cash App, my phone number for Zelle, or to the children’s father, vicente-ruiz-6 at Venmo. Everything Goes Dance Studio is also accepting donations on the twins behalf.

Your kindness will truly make a difference.

Thank you to the wonderful Laura Lafata for writing this for us.