On a day that was supposed to be about preparing for a new school year, my life changed in an instant. I had taken my four kids—Madelyn, Max, Marisol, and Jaime—shopping for school clothes. When we returned, we found firefighters outside our apartment. There had been an electrical fire, and the firefighters had to break down our door to get inside. In a matter of moments, everything we owned was gone. We lost all our furniture, the kids’ beds and clothes, and most heartbreakingly, our beloved cats.

Each of my children had a room filled with things they loved. Madelyn’s room was full of Hello Kitty, Max had dinosaurs everywhere, Marisol loved everything Stitch, and Jaime’s favorite was the Disney movie Cars. Now, all those special things are gone. We are currently staying with my aunt, but we have nothing left from our home. The most urgent needs for my family are beds, clothes, and basic furniture so my kids can feel safe and comfortable again.

This has been an incredibly difficult time for us emotionally. My kids are heartbroken over the loss of their pets and the home they loved. Any support from our community would mean the world to us as we try to rebuild and give my children a sense of normalcy again. Thank you for reading our story and for any help you can offer.