Hi everyone,

I’m organizing this fundraiser for our wonderful neighbors, the Shade family — Wendy and Alvin, their teenage son and daughter, Alvin’s father and brother — and their four adorable dogs.

About two weeks ago, the Shades’ home had a fire. Thankfully, everyone — including their dogs — is safe. While the house wasn’t completely destroyed, there’s significant smoke and water damage throughout, and the interior will need to be gutted and rebuilt. Contractors estimate the process could take a year.

Right now, the family is staying in the parts of the house that weren’t ruined by fire, but the entire house is covered in a layer of black soot, which they’ve been instructed not to clean until the restoration crews can begin their work. They are surrounded by large air purifiers and dehumidifiers running constantly. They’re urgently searching for a temporary place to live, but finding a rental that can fit six people and accepts dogs has been a big challenge. They’re afraid they might have to give up their pets, which would be devastating.

Even after they find housing, the financial strain will be heavy. Insurance will hopefully cover most of the rent, but there will still be a lot of out-of-pocket costs along the way. The family is looking at a year of double utilities, double water bills, and new expenses like furniture rentals and moving costs. There are so many unknowns right now.

They’re trying to stay afloat during a time when everyday costs — food, gas, and living expenses — are already stretching everyone thin. It’s especially heartbreaking with the holidays coming up. The uncertainty of where they’ll live, on top of navigating insurance calls and rebuilding plans, has been incredibly stressful.

The Shades are the kind of neighbors everyone hopes for. They are welcoming and have helped us in many different ways. They’re part of what makes our street feel like home.

Now we want to be there for them. If we can come together to help relieve some of the financial strain, it will give the Shades one less thing to worry about as they focus on rebuilding their home and keeping their family settled.

Your donation will help cover:

Every contribution, no matter the amount, will make a difference. If you’re not able to give right now, please consider sharing this page to help spread the word.

Thank you so much for your help and support as the Shades work to rebuild and move forward. ❤️