On the evening of April 29, a fire broke out in a greenhouse attached to the home of my neighbors and dear friends, Virginia and Mark. The flames quickly spread to the house. Thanks to the swift action of nearby neighbors, their beloved cat was rescued, and 911 was called. Firefighters arrived quickly, but the damage was severe. The house is expected to be a total loss.

Virginia and Mark were not home at the time. They stayed that night in the small daycare building that Virginia operates on their property—where she has lovingly cared for many of the community's children over the years.

They do have insurance, but as many know, insurance rarely covers everything—and it takes time. Right now, they need help with immediate living expenses: food, clothing, lodging, basic supplies, and the cost of caring for their animals—a donkey, three geese, several goats, and chickens—who still need daily tending.

I didn’t know Virginia and Mark well until we worked together on getting a water line installed in our neighborhood after the nearby landfill contaminated our wells. That’s when I discovered that Virginia and I shared a deep love of reading. Since then, we've shared many dinners, long walks, and cups of tea. We have our own mini book club. They've become like a second family to me.

Virginia was in the middle of researching for a book, and all of her notes and papers were in the house.

They are generous, kind-hearted people—always giving to our community. Now it’s our turn to give back.

Please contribute what you can to help Virginia and Mark get through this devastating time. Every dollar makes a difference, and all funds will go directly to them.

Thank you so much.

❤️

~Patricia Duffy