On Tuesday night, Beverly and Tom Riffe had a serious kitchen fire. The firefighters told them they were just seconds away from it getting out of control. Thankfully, Tom remembered the fire extinguisher under the sink and was able to stop it in time.

They are extremely grateful that everyone is safe, and that all of their pets are safe too. That’s the biggest blessing in all of this.

The fire ruined their stove, microwave, and a cabinet, and left soot throughout the house. The ceilings and walls will all need to be cleaned and repainted, and some areas may need more work. What started as a pot on the stove for a double boiler to dip candy turned into flames in just a few minutes, even though there was still water in the pot.

This situation has also brought back a lot of difficult emotions from a house fire they went through many years ago, making everything feel even heavier.

On top of that, their furnace went out in November and still hasn’t been able to be fixed, which has put a big financial strain on them. Because things were already so tight, their homeowners insurance had lapsed in the fall, with plans to restart it in January—just before this happened.

Even with all of this, they are staying thankful. Friends have already stepped in with paint and supplies, and they truly appreciate all the prayers, messages, and love being sent their way.

How Funds Will Be Used

The money raised will help with:

• Replacing the stove, microwave, and damaged cabinets

• Cleaning and repairing soot damage

• Painting walls and ceilings

• Fixing or replacing the furnace

• Other unexpected home repair costs

Any amount helps more than you know, and sharing this fundraiser means just as much. Tom and Bev are incredibly thankful to be safe and surrounded by such a caring community. Please keep them in your prayers!