Dear friends, family, and kind strangers,

Yesterday, our lives were turned upside down by a devastating house fire. In an instant, everything we owned — our home, our belongings, our memories — was gone.

The fire started from a faulty bathroom fan and I tried to put it out using a fire extinguisher but it was too late because the fire had already spread into the attic.

As the hours pass every thought reminds me of the items we used daily that we will simply never see again. Everything from our 4 beds down to fine details like eating utensils, dish cloths, hair dryers, toothbrushes... it's all gone. I will never expect to get everything back soon but I know that we have to start somewhere and currently we are homeless leaving with basically the clothes we were wearing at the time of the fire. Marti was wearing her flip flops with no socks of course.

Most importantly, we are grateful that we made it out alive. We were able to save our two dogs and one of our cats, but heartbreakingly, we lost our other beloved cat in the fire. The pain of losing a cherished family member is beyond words, and it has made this loss even harder.

I am the sole provider for our family of four — myself, my spouse, our two teenage daughters, our two dogs, and now only one of our cats. Without insurance, we are starting over from nothing.

We’ve set up this GoFundMe to ask for help in rebuilding our lives. These funds will go toward:

Emergency essentials: food, clothing, pet care, and toiletries

A safe place to stay and deposits for new housing

Beds, furniture, kitchen supplies, and home basics

We know that some things are simply irreplaceable — the sentimental keepsakes, family photos, heirlooms, and the everyday comforts that made our house a home. While money can’t bring those things back, your kindness will help us start to rebuild our future, one step at a time.

Every donation, no matter the size, is a ray of hope for our family. If you’re not able to give, please consider sharing our story. Your support means the world to us and helps give us the strength to move forward through this unimaginable time.

With love and deep gratitude,

From Aaron, Marti, Kennedy & Kylie