On the night of Friday, January 23, 2026, my mom, Vicki, and my brother, Ben, experienced a devastating tragedy—their home was destroyed by a fire. Vicki was out of town caring for her own mother, whose health is rapidly declining, when the fire broke out. Ben, who works as a pizza delivery man and is known for making others laugh, was not home at the time, but sadly lost his beloved cat in the blaze. The fire appears to have started in the attic, but the exact cause is still unknown. To make matters even more difficult, Vicki’s homeowners insurance had lapsed and she had not been able to have it reinstated, leaving them with no safety net to rebuild.

Vicki has dedicated her life to helping others as a therapist for special needs adults and has always been a pillar of our community. Ben, despite his own challenges, works hard and brings joy to those around him. The fire took not only their home, but also all of their cherished photographs and Vicki’s treasured musical instruments—memories and mementos that can never be replaced.

Right now, they need help with personal essentials, temporary housing, cleaning up the debris, and purchasing a mobile home to place on their property so they can begin to rebuild their lives. Please help support my mother and show her the grace that community can provide. Your kindness and generosity will mean the world to our family as we try to recover from this heartbreaking loss.