House Fire Relief for Sophie McLoughin
Donation protected
Fundraiser for Sophie McLoughlin - House Fire Survivor
In the early morning of June 14, 2020, fire engulfed the home where my son’s very good friend, Sophie McLoughlin and her boyfriend Kent were staying. They got out with their pajamas on and nothing else, losing everything they owned in the fire. This is a fundraiser to help them recoup at least some of the devastating losses they've endured.
Sophie is a 26-year old woman who is one of the sweetest and most compassionate women you’d ever meet. She spent her formative years in Scotland, and grew up in a Chicago suburb and went to high school with my son. She graduated from Montana State in 2017 and is building her career in the wellness/outdoor industry. She and her boyfriend Kent were visiting with family after working seasonally for Burton Snowboards in Vermont. They were headed to Montana where Sophie was planning on attending graduate school this coming fall. When the pandemic hit, their two week visit turned into an unplanned stay (they really had no choice).
Both her mom, Jana, and I, (Michelle) spoke with Sophie individually Saturday night as Sophie and Kent were packing for their big move to Montana. She went to sleep around midnight and awoke around 4 am to shattering glass and the house fully engulfed in flames. She was able to escape out of the bedroom window, and just minutes later when she was calling 911, Kent climbed up the deck to help his Mom who was trapped by smoke and fire rapidly encroaching. Thinking quickly - he threw a sofa from the 2nd story window, picked up his Mom as Sophie assured she was able to land safely onto the sofa on the ground. Everyone stood barefoot, in their pajamas completely in shock as 33 fire departments rushed to the scene of their home in the countryside.
The losses Sophie and Kent have experienced are overwhelming because they were in the process of moving and had all of their possessions with them. They have both been involved in the outdoor industry since ages 15, starting as young snowboard instructors. They lost absolutely everything in the fire. All of their gear and equipment they have spent years working for and collecting. Snowboards, camping gear, climbing equipment, and all the clothing that go along with those sports. They also lost all of their personal belongings, such as their clothing, shoes, irreplaceable family heirlooms and gifts, household items and all of the furniture and decor they had been planning to move with.
Unfortunately, they are receiving very little in the way of insurance reimbursement because they were guests and not paying tenants. They feel incredibly lost with what to do next, and are not even sure if they can move to Montana since they are without winter clothes, outdoor gear, and even basic necessities for an apartment.
I’ve known Sophie for more than a decade, and my relationship with her deepened when she lived with me. I consider myself her mentor, however I have to say that in so many respects she is like a daughter to me. But she also has a fantastic mother, who is facilitating this GoFundMe effort to support Sophie moving forward. Jana and I are hoping you can help. Even the smallest of donation will help them recover from this crisis. Personally, I have never experienced being in a fire, but Jana has when she was a child and was in hospital for over a year, so this has brought back bad memories for her.
When we last spoke she asked me to imagine what I was wearing right then—to take off my shoes, to look around and think about my family and my pets, and then imagine waking up to a house engulfed in flames, hearing glass shattering and loved ones screaming, and then imagine that whatever I am wearing, is all I have left. I honestly cannot imagine surviving such an experience, and then in the midst of the trauma having to figure out how to manage the practicalities of recouping all of my losses. Once back on their feet (with shoes!) Sophie and Kent’s mission is to turn this negative into a positive and finding a way to comfort children who have been in fires and educate to prevent house fires.
If you can contribute, we would be so grateful. If you can share this fundraiser with family and friends, we would be grateful for that as well. But if all you can do is check your smoke alarms and maybe even plan a family fire drill, then please do that. Don’t imagine it, please do it. Thank you so much!
Jana Nelson and Michelle Martin
Read the News Article about the Fire Here
In the early morning of June 14, 2020, fire engulfed the home where my son’s very good friend, Sophie McLoughlin and her boyfriend Kent were staying. They got out with their pajamas on and nothing else, losing everything they owned in the fire. This is a fundraiser to help them recoup at least some of the devastating losses they've endured.
Sophie is a 26-year old woman who is one of the sweetest and most compassionate women you’d ever meet. She spent her formative years in Scotland, and grew up in a Chicago suburb and went to high school with my son. She graduated from Montana State in 2017 and is building her career in the wellness/outdoor industry. She and her boyfriend Kent were visiting with family after working seasonally for Burton Snowboards in Vermont. They were headed to Montana where Sophie was planning on attending graduate school this coming fall. When the pandemic hit, their two week visit turned into an unplanned stay (they really had no choice).
Both her mom, Jana, and I, (Michelle) spoke with Sophie individually Saturday night as Sophie and Kent were packing for their big move to Montana. She went to sleep around midnight and awoke around 4 am to shattering glass and the house fully engulfed in flames. She was able to escape out of the bedroom window, and just minutes later when she was calling 911, Kent climbed up the deck to help his Mom who was trapped by smoke and fire rapidly encroaching. Thinking quickly - he threw a sofa from the 2nd story window, picked up his Mom as Sophie assured she was able to land safely onto the sofa on the ground. Everyone stood barefoot, in their pajamas completely in shock as 33 fire departments rushed to the scene of their home in the countryside.
The losses Sophie and Kent have experienced are overwhelming because they were in the process of moving and had all of their possessions with them. They have both been involved in the outdoor industry since ages 15, starting as young snowboard instructors. They lost absolutely everything in the fire. All of their gear and equipment they have spent years working for and collecting. Snowboards, camping gear, climbing equipment, and all the clothing that go along with those sports. They also lost all of their personal belongings, such as their clothing, shoes, irreplaceable family heirlooms and gifts, household items and all of the furniture and decor they had been planning to move with.
Unfortunately, they are receiving very little in the way of insurance reimbursement because they were guests and not paying tenants. They feel incredibly lost with what to do next, and are not even sure if they can move to Montana since they are without winter clothes, outdoor gear, and even basic necessities for an apartment.
I’ve known Sophie for more than a decade, and my relationship with her deepened when she lived with me. I consider myself her mentor, however I have to say that in so many respects she is like a daughter to me. But she also has a fantastic mother, who is facilitating this GoFundMe effort to support Sophie moving forward. Jana and I are hoping you can help. Even the smallest of donation will help them recover from this crisis. Personally, I have never experienced being in a fire, but Jana has when she was a child and was in hospital for over a year, so this has brought back bad memories for her.
When we last spoke she asked me to imagine what I was wearing right then—to take off my shoes, to look around and think about my family and my pets, and then imagine waking up to a house engulfed in flames, hearing glass shattering and loved ones screaming, and then imagine that whatever I am wearing, is all I have left. I honestly cannot imagine surviving such an experience, and then in the midst of the trauma having to figure out how to manage the practicalities of recouping all of my losses. Once back on their feet (with shoes!) Sophie and Kent’s mission is to turn this negative into a positive and finding a way to comfort children who have been in fires and educate to prevent house fires.
If you can contribute, we would be so grateful. If you can share this fundraiser with family and friends, we would be grateful for that as well. But if all you can do is check your smoke alarms and maybe even plan a family fire drill, then please do that. Don’t imagine it, please do it. Thank you so much!
Jana Nelson and Michelle Martin
Read the News Article about the Fire Here
Organizer and beneficiary
Michelle Martin
Organizer
Aliso Viejo, CA
Sophie McLoughlin
Beneficiary