Family in need

Please share My heart is heavy and I need to share the story of a family that is extremely special to me. My best friend Amy and her family have endured a very traumatic life changing domestic violence experience recently. They have been left in complete ruins emotionally, mentally and financially devastated. Amy has had a pretty rough upbringing surrounded by abuse, drugs and alcohol. She was placed in foster care the remainder of her childhood after both her parents were deemed unfit and a severe determent in her raising her. After 40 years, Amy and her father were given a chance of reunification, building the father/daughter relationship she has always wanted with him since she was a young girl. Living the rest of his life being around her family, being a dad and a grandpa. Amy’s father has struggled with addictions, criminal life and in and out of prison for over 50 years. Amy and her cousin Harry believe that her father’s only chance at a real life was leaving California for good, or eventually he would succumb to his lifestyle by an overdose or alone in a prison Although they are in 2 different states they teamed up together with their believe, dedication and hopes they worked hard petitioning for her father to be transferred and move closer to their family. They both knew with his age, lifestyle and health this was his only and last hope at living out his end life years with a loving family. Sadly, this dream was shattered when he did succumb to his addictions. During his last relapse he went on a maniac rage and their family was caught in the crossfires. While they were gone he come to their home, breaking in and destroying almost everything they had, every room was affected. It was after dark when Amy got home, once inside to her surprise her father was at the top of their entry way. Within a few minutes she realized he had relapsed again. He became very irate with her threating her life. She tried to leave out the front door, but in the darkness she did not see it was barracked until she tripped over stuff on the floor. This is when the reality of the situation was clear and she was in danger. He had destroyed everything barricaded doors, broke out windows, damaged furniture, clothes, their food etc. It was as if a tornado had come through, he destroyed anything he could. She was trying to call 911 when he tried physically going after her again. By the grace of God her husband returned home from work. He tried reasoning with Amy’s father to leave their home peacefully unfortunately he became violent and physically attacked him. After their struggle Rob was able to coax him outside and they locked the door, While waiting for the officers he then began destroying their belonging in the garage and damaging their vehicles kicking in several headlights and punching windshields. During this time she was able to call 911 and the sheriff arrived 20 minutes later. Immediately after entering the house they determined this was a severe situation and they were now looking for a very unpredictable and unstable subject and called in immediate back up with a K-9 unit. After an hour or so and a few more K-9 units they were able to locate her father. Almost every officer that night all said this is one of the worse vandalism scenes they’ve seen in their careers, like something you’d seen on tv, but worse. That is why they did not waste any time calling in back up and tracking him. When Amy called me and explained what had happened and even with the pictures she sent me, I was not prepared walking into her home what I walked into and what I saw, The photos do not even come close to detailing what this man did to their home. My heart sank, I hurt inside overwhelmed by the destruction of their home and belongings and began crying myself their home left in ruins from a fit of rage stemmed by an addiction to drugs. For Amy, that this happened to them but not just by anyone but her father, a man that is meant to protect her not cause her such severe pain. In a matter of hours he crumbled their life into almost nothing. These are things that they’ve worked their entire lives obtaining and working hard for. Items that are not replaceable, sentimental. Items that were on loan or borrowed. Items that belonged to their children that meant the world to them. With everything in such disarray (broken glass, razor blades, drug paraphernalia, chemicals) they decided they needed to stay in a hotel until they could truly assess the damages and dangers. As you can imagine this has taken a toll on their family. This truly has affected each and every one of them on so many different levels. Its heart breaking when one of the little ones is showing how they found another broken item of theirs that Grandpa broke. They do not understand how or why this happened, confused and upset thinking that their Grandpa must not love them. Amy and Rob are trying so hard to explain these things but I know how confused and guilty they feel themselves that their littles had to experience something so traumatic. I am hoping that within my little community we are able to help them pick up some of these broken pieces for them. They just started getting back on track since Amy’s accident over 3 years ago that she is permanently disabled from. Amy is the woman that will give anything and go whatever lengths to help someone in need. She is the type of friend you want fighting in your corner. She loves endlessly, unconditionally with her whole heart. She will not judge you, leave you ever and extend her hand when you have fallen. I know this for she’s been there for me when I’ve needed it. This is so hard to watch them try to rise above this; their family is an amazing loving family who did not deserve something so devastating like this to happen. I am going to do my best to list some of their needs and areas they need some help in. Repairs *Replacement of the broken windows If anyone has the skills or knowledge of anyone that could help that would be amazing. We believe this is what these windows are but it is only a guess -69x52 corner picture double paned window -36x38x80 double paned sliding glass door window stationary side *multiple size screens from different windows he tried gaining access *Repairing a toilet, the handle and something inside isn’t working properly and really lose. Thinking he was trying to flush what he did in the bathroom to hide the evidence *transporting items the larger items to the dump *with the cold weather getting wood for their wood stove Recently, their van broke down at a gas station. This is their main vehicle for transporting their family around, but now is what they been using to take the larger destroyed items to the dump the day it broke down. They were in an agreement on the day they would have it towed and left their contact information in case they needed to reach them. However the manager came in and without contacting them towed it the day before. The cost of getting it out of impound is over a $1000 and the cost of fixing whatever is wrong with it is beyond what the family can financially afford. It is most likely they will need to let it go. Things they will need to replace ASAP and in the future. Please look and see if you might have an extra of something laying around that you wouldn’t mind parting with. These are all the items that were destroyed by her father. *Almost all their food. They have to start over pretty much from bare cupboards. Most of that they had in their inside refrigerator and freezer was destroyed, poured out, mixed with cleaners, smeared all over, etc. Almost everything in the outside refrigerator and stand up freezer was completely ruined. A lot of baking items, spices, jarred items like pickles, noodles, rice, spaghetti sauces *Everything -Kitchen -Kitchen table and chairs in hope of setting 6 or more, square of small triangle, kind of what they had, and their space is very limited. --dishware: plates, bowls, cups, pots, pans, cooking pans similar to corning ware, glass or metal. -storage containers -microwave -coffee pot -can opener -electric tea kettle -Living Spaces -couches -tables (coffee and entry) -lamps -corner desk with shelving -bookshelves -9 cubicle cubby shelving units larger style (2) -tvs (3) -vcr/dvd players (2) -laptops (4) -1 Xbox 1 -1 Xbox 360 -2 Wii’s Bedrooms - 2 twin mattresses -1 full pillow top -1 queen size pillow top mattresses -bedding for twin, full and queen Appliances -Electrolux matching washer and dryer front loaders with pedestals (The washer probably can be repaired, he punched the function knob so it falls into the shell of the washer and non-operational, and not sure the dryer the screen fades out and then won’t turn back on. The rest of the damage is cosmetic from being punched, kicked or stabbed with his knife) Household items -curtains and curtain rods of all sizes for most of the rooms -laundry basket -any pet or animal carriers or gates (their kennels were broken and their hens were killed when they were thrown. Clothing, bedding, blankets, rugs, towels. Every one lost some of their belonging mostly by being stabbed but mainly to 2 younger boys lost most of their clothing. The pile up in the kitchen photo was most of their clothing that could not be salvaged. A lot of the other items were also shredded or things poured on them. They’ve applied for a victims compensation fund that but it’s based on a restitution compensation for personal property. So until her father is able to pay restitution they will not receive any help for any of the costs or loss of their items. Please if you are able to help or have any questions contact either myself or her directly via messenger, texting or phone. I am also working on a few things like fund through their bank for anyone wanting to contribute any financial funding and a possible collection area for any donations of food or items for them. Thank you for your time and help by sharing