Steven and Karen, along with their four children, were out celebrating their youngest daughter Layla’s birthday when their lives changed in a matter of minutes. A neighbor called to let them knw their home was completely engulfed in flames. They lost everything—clothes, furniture, and most heartbreakingly, irreplaceable mementos like a photo album lovingly made by Karen’s mother and years of the children’s artwork. The fire took not just their belongings, but a lifetime of memories, just three days before Christmas.

Steven works the night shift as a stocker at Walmart, and Karen is a cafeteria worker for the Bald Knob school district. Despite working hard every day, they’ were already struggling to make ends meet. Steven’s account was already overdrawn before the fire, and with no credit to fall back on, the family now faces the impossible task of starting over from scratch. Steven, tired of playing catchup with the bills, began attending attending community college over a year ago, working toward his HVAC certification and maintaining a 4.0 GPA—an incredible achievement for someone who struggled in elementary and secondary education due to dyslexia.. Steven and Karen were so proud when they purchased this, their first home, together.

Any donations will go toward helping Steven and Karen get out of the financial hole they were in before the fire, securing temporary housing, replacing essentials, and giving their children some sense of stability during this incredibly difficult time. Insurance may only cover the structure, not the contents, so they are truly starting from nothing. Please consider supporting this family as they work to rebuild their lives. Your kindness and generosity will make a real difference.