Please Help Belinda and Daughter Rebuild after House Fire

Hello! My name is Stacey and I am starting this GoFundMe to help my longtime family friend who has just lost everything in a house fire. She and her daughter escaped with just the clothes on their back. In just 30 minutes, everything was gone. Their dog saved their lives! Hussle was barking crazily at the fire that started from a cigarette that was thrown down on their balcony. Belinda noticed that the dog was barking a bit crazier than normal, so she went to investigate, and that's when she saw the fire. The fire extinguisher in the condo did not work, nor did a neighbor's when they tried to use theirs. She had just enough time to get her daughter out of the shower, throw clothes on, grab the dog, and get out. They were luckily able to save family photos that were in an Ikea cabinet, but every other thing they owned is gone.

I am truly devastated learning about this.

Belinda and I met 27 years ago. We lived in the same apartment complex, and our kids were about the same age. I just rang her bell one day and asked if she wanted to walk to the apartment playground with the kids, and the rest is history. When I tell you that Belinda has been there for me through thick and thin, Belinda does so much for so many. She is by far the most selfless person I know. We became fast friends, and from there, we bought our first homes right next door to each other. Her kids were my kids, and my kid was hers. We were both single moms just trying to give our children better lives than we had. She used to work at Kraft, and they did these employee bags monthly where the employees would get grab bags of Kraft food items. Belinda ALWAYS made sure she grabbed enough for me too, so trust and believe me when I say we ate lots and lots of Kraft macaroni and cheese, barbecue sauce on chicken, and Kool-Aid! lol.

I really could write a small paperback about all Belinda has done for me and just how much she means to me.

Belinda was my maid of honor - she helped me purchase my dream wedding gown. She is a decorator extraordinaire that definitely missed her calling, but oh how we benefited from her talents! She helped my husband paint our downstairs kitchen/living room area before my daughter's graduation party! She painted all through the night, went home, showered, changed clothes, and came back to help at the party.

She painted and helped decorate when we bought our first homes.

She painted and helped decorate when I moved into another home. She wanted to make sure my children liked their rooms and worked with them on what theme they wanted and helped make it happen for them.

She will literally do anything for me at any given moment.

Oh - did I mention how she sewed multiple costumes for my daughter's play?

She has truly been a blessing in my life, and I am devastated that this has happened to her.

I am asking for your help. Any amount will do and help. She is probably going to be without a stable living situation for at least a year. Can you even imagine? I surely can't.

I appreciate you all and anything that you can do.