Friends, family, and caring community: On Monday night Aaron and Natalie had to flee their house, their neighborhood and everything they had at 11:44 pm (9/7/2020) as fire engulfed trees right in their back yard.

 Aaron and Natalie barely had time to gather their three dogs, change into clothes and get out. Their entire home and neighborhood were destroyed to mere ashes on Tuesday. Forced to just wait for hours in their truck through the night in a parking lot where they sheltered out of harm’s way, they had no idea if they would have a home to come back to.

To make matters worse, their temporary housing was evacuated the next day. While they are now out of a motel room and back in temporary housing that has been deemed safe again, they are reeling from the reality that they have lost everything except life and their dogs.

Aaron’s two businesses have been decimated as he’s self-employed. He has run a website development business for several years and has a mineral and mining business, with which he has lost all of his mined inventory and tools. He has an amazing kid’s product, Gem Blox which he builds a specialized box and hammer set for where kids get to break it open and find actual mined gems waiting inside. His computer hardware, tools, castings, and supplies are all gone for both businesses.

Natalie is starting nursing school this coming Thursday and now has no supplies. Additionally, she works two jobs: one in administration at a local hospital and another as an elder caregiver in the community. She is now living amongst some clients in temporary housing and making sure they are still attended to. In the meantime, their transportation options are limited – Aaron lost his Jeep to the fire and Natalie lost her car.

Natalie and I go back as best friends for 21 years and she has always been there for me. My hope is that this appeal will reach many and touch hearts all over the world so we can now be there for her and Aaron. 

Aaron is a hardworking dad of 3 boys and they are a blended family that have overcome much and fought hard to start a life in Oregon where they recently realized the dream of owning the home that is now rubble and ash.

They are very humble and would not explicitly ever ask for help themselves, but have consistently been there for others time and again when need calls. Let’s do the same!

Most importantly, they have their lives, each other and their doggos who they love fiercely!

While some of these material things and needs will be replaced and met in time, please consider helping them so they can get back on their feet sooner! Let’s restore their hope and show them the love that I know each of you has!

After

Before
Their Love

Behind their house just before evacuation

Behind their house just before evacuation

Aaron and Maya exhausted, but safe in their temporary housing

Gem, exhausted but safe from the fire.

Poor Bear. She's exhausted but safe from the fire.

Jeep is destroyed, but can be replaced.

Natalie's car is gone. It served faithfully, but can be replaced. I will cherish the memories in it and when we bought it together.

Their family will have more days like this again.

Any funds will be used to help get them going again. Thank you all for your love, prayers, encouragement and support. It means the world to them!