Nicole and Kim's Fire Displacement Fund

My name is Teresa (Tess) Lucey, and I started this campaign to assist my two best friends, Nicole Cross and Kimberly Domanico after they and their four cats were displaced from their apartment by a fire in Salem, MA.

On May 31, 2020,  a Saltonstall Apartment complex on Lafayette Street in Salem Massachusetts caught fire . The electrical fire began in a basement apartment and spread up two levels, severely damaging multiple apartments and common hallways in it's wake. It forced an emergency evacuation of the building, fortunately avoiding any loss of human life. Over 40 residents have been displaced from their homes. 

At the time of the blaze, my two best friends, Nicole Cross and Kimberly Domanico, were visiting a terminally ill family member in New York state. They had just moved to the Salem complex on May 16th, and many of their worldly possessions were still in boxes. You can imagine the panic they endured when they received a text message from their landlord, alerting them of the fire. They were over three hours away from Salem; their four cats were still in the building. 

Suzaku

LeLouch (Lulu)

Peter (top) and Simon (bottom)

Due to the quick work of Salem's firefighters, the fire did not spread to Nikki and Kimli's apartment. The fire had been stopped almost directly beneath them, on the second floor of the building.

Although Nikki and Kimli were still hours away, my wife and I (local Salem residents) were able to respond more immediately. Upon arriving, we learned that Nikki and Kimli's apartment had been forced open by firefighters, leaving the apartment wide open. One of the four cats, (the tabby Suzaku), had been immediately recovered by the firefighters upon entering. He was being looked after by an wonderful neighbor and was confirmed safe. The other three cats were MIA; the firefighter reported no others had been found.

The fire department kindly allowed us to search the apartment for the remaining three kitties. For a few terrible hours, we had no way of knowing the if house cats had fled the burning building, or if they were still in hiding somewhere in their home. 

Miraculously, after some hours of searching the smoke-damaged apartment, all three cats were recovered safely! By the time Nikki and Kimli arrived, only one cat (Peter) remained missing. He was quickly found in his hiding place once he recognized his owners' voices. All four cats were frightened and smelled like smoke, but were otherwise wonderfully unharmed. 

(Only three are pictured here, at a hotel with their moms. But rest assured, all four are safe and sound!)

This was the best case scenario of an otherwise terrible situation for Nikki and Kimli. Their cats are safe and alive and most of their possessions are recoverable. 

However, that does not mean they are out of the woods yet.

At this time, Nikki, Kimli, and the cats are unable to stay in their new apartment. They are currently left with only a few overnight possessions and limited cat supplies. They are not certain when exactly they will be allowed back in to access more of their belongings.

The management has not yet assessed the scope of the damage done to the building. As of now, Nikki and Kimli have been left to find their own accommodations for them and their cats. Their management will provide them a reimbursement for only one night's stay at a hotel. They have been told that they may receive assistance from the Red Cross, but it remains to be seen when this assistance will be provided and if it will accommodate their cats as well. They are currently safe at a hotel, but they are unsure how long they can afford such accommodations on their own.

(Their living room, before the fire)

(Their kitchen and cats, before the fire)

In addition, much of their furniture, bedding and clothing has been irreparably damaged by smoke and soot. They will need to replace much after all this is over. 

Worst case scenario, they are anticipating finding a new apartment to move into, in the event they cannot return to theirs. 

All of this puts an incredible financial strain on two people who are just trying to get by. Moving to Salem the first time was expensive, and potentially moving again so soon after, (PLUS replacing damaged furniture), incredibly difficult to afford. Liza and I are setting up this GoFundMe to help our two best friends in desperate need. Please help us ease the burden of this unexpected disaster.

If we can raise enough to at offer some relief on hotel bills and food costs while they are displaced, that would be wonderful. Our priority is ensure that these two get to keep a roof over their head and their cats safe and sound.

If we can raise more than that, in order to help them recover the damages to their possessions, that would be incredible. It would help them bounce back once all this craziness is finally settled.

Best case scenario, if this campaign could help them in their effort to relocate to a new, undamaged apartment, I would consider it an unmitigated success. Moving again would mean a new deposit on a pet-friendly apartment in Salem, as well as other various moving costs. If we could reach that goal, it would be absolutely amazing!!

If you are able, please, please, please donate. Whatever you are able to, anything at all helps!

I know that now that may people are suffering right now during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that is even more reason to try to help if you can. Right now, Nikki and Kimli are more at risk of catching the virus without a consistent roof over their head.

If you can't donate yourself, please share this on any social media platform you can! Visibility is also incredibly helpful; the more people who spread it, the more likely we are to offer these to amazing people the help they need. 

Thank you so much for your help. <3