Over the weekend, my four children and I experienced a devastating house fire that turned our lives upside down. In a matter of moments, we lost our home and nearly everything we owned. As a single family trying to recover from this unimaginable loss, we're facing the overwhelming task of replacing the basics—clothing, shoes, toiletries, food, furniture, household essentials, and other necessities while we work toward rebuilding our lives.

Adding to this difficult time, my oldest son is just a few weeks away from starting college at Northern Illinois University. This should be an exciting milestone for him, but the fire has taken many of the things he was preparing to bring with him as he begins this new chapter. We want to do everything we can to help him pursue his education despite everything our family has been through.

Every donation, no matter the size, will help provide stability for my children and help us begin again. If you're not able to donate, sharing our fundraiser with your family, friends, and community would mean the world to us. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, generosity, prayers, and support during one of the most difficult times in our lives. Your compassion gives us hope as we work to rebuild and move forward together.