Home and School for Merle
Donation protected
What I'm raising money for: Merle's ancestral family home and all of his new school clothes and supplies were completely destroyed in a fire on 8/12/17. He lives on the Alamo Navajo reservation in New Mexico, a small very isolated communty with no fire services. By the time the fire truck came from the nearest town everything was lost. Even his new school shoes melted. The family was just preparing dinner when the fire started on the porch and thankfully everyone got out with only minor injuries but their hearts are broken. Merle is supposed to start school tomorrow as a sophomore but he has literally nothing but the clothes on his back. The community is helping them clean up and clear the site and if the family could get some building supplies they could start to rebuild.
How the money will be used: The money will be used for Merle's school supplies, shoes and clothes and for basic building supplies for the family home.
Why this is important to me: I am one of Merle's teachers. He is a sweet, talented, special needs child. I have known the extended family since he was in preschool. His cousin Mary and I have worked together for 20 years. I taught his mother and his aunt in adult education. Things have always been difficult for him and his family but they have always tried to live a good traditional life. The home that burned was their grandparents home passed down to them so they have lost all of their tradional Navajo belongings including their ceremonial tipi which makes this even more tragic. Winter is coming and they will need to build some sort of shelter soon. As for Merle, every teenager wants to start school with at least some cool shoes.
How the money will be used: The money will be used for Merle's school supplies, shoes and clothes and for basic building supplies for the family home.
Why this is important to me: I am one of Merle's teachers. He is a sweet, talented, special needs child. I have known the extended family since he was in preschool. His cousin Mary and I have worked together for 20 years. I taught his mother and his aunt in adult education. Things have always been difficult for him and his family but they have always tried to live a good traditional life. The home that burned was their grandparents home passed down to them so they have lost all of their tradional Navajo belongings including their ceremonial tipi which makes this even more tragic. Winter is coming and they will need to build some sort of shelter soon. As for Merle, every teenager wants to start school with at least some cool shoes.
Organizer
Mary Mayle
Organizer
Magdalena, NM
