Help Holley & Chris recover from house fire

Story

Hi, we're Holley & Chris Bell (recently married; most know me by the last name of Bolinger). We are trying to recover from a house fire. On November 2, 2024, our lives were forever changed. While I was in South Texas and Chris was away from the home, our house caught fire. Thankfully, our dogs Oliver and Apple managed to escape unharmed. However, the smoke damage was so severe that we've lost almost everything. The fire started in the kitchen, destroying all of our cooking and dining essentials, and the entire house has been deemed unlivable. From what we've been told, the rebuild will require removing and replacing the ceiling, kitchen, living room, bathroom, hallway, HVAC system, ductwork, plumbing, electrical, and gas systems—all of which must be brought up to code. This extensive process is expected to take at least six months. In the meantime, we've found temporary housing. I can never thank this family enough for the blessing of letting us rent their empty house, but the rent is $300 over our budget. We also now have an additional $198 a month payment for the storage POD container we had to rent to store what we have been able to salvage and smoke-filled boxes of stuff we still have to go through. All of this is making it difficult to manage our monthly expenses. To add to our heartbreak, the fire occurred just weeks before our wedding on November 15th. We had taken out a loan to help fund our dream honeymoon trip to Alaska in May, but we've had to use that money to cover needs since the fire. As some of you may know, for the past 4 years I've dedicated myself to documenting history in the making as SpaceX builds and tests the world's most powerful rockets. This has been a life-changing experience for me, and being part of the space community has helped me overcome incredible personal challenges. It has given me a sense of purpose and a place where I truly belong. With everything that has happened, I'm uncertain if I'll be able to continue making these trips, which is heartbreaking. Sharing my "Hero's Journey" with others—especially those with physical or mental health disabilities—has been my way of inspiring others to never give up on their dreams. Despite the setbacks, we are determined to keep going and to rebuild, but we can't do it alone. We are asking for your help to recover from this devastating fire, replace basic necessities, and manage living expenses while we rebuild our lives. Your kindness and generosity will not only help us move forward but also ensure that I can continue to share my journey and inspire others to chase their dreams, no matter the obstacles. Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Your support means the world to us. And remember... Dreams are only limited to however BIG or Small you decide to Dream. Ad Astra, Holley (Grit) & Chris Bell