Two weeks ago, my brother Riley left for the gym and came home an hour later to find his apartment completely destroyed by a fire. Investigators believe it was caused by faulty electrical wiring in the building or a cord. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but both his unit and the one below were deemed uninhabitable, and Riley lost everything inside.

He came back from the gym with nothing but the clothes on his back, his keys, and his phone. Every possession he owned was gone: his clothing, his computers, his passport, his wallet, anything sentimental. To make matters worse, Riley didn't have renters insurance, and despite exploring every option, the building's insurance does not cover personal losses. He has no way to recoup the loss of everything he owned.

Rebuilding from zero is overwhelming under any circumstances. Doing it in New York, where the cost of everything is extremely high, makes it that much harder. New identification, new electronics, new clothing, new everything. It adds up fast, and the financial weight of starting over is overwhelming.

I set up this GoFundMe to help lighten that load, even if just a little. Any contribution goes directly toward helping Riley get back on his feet. We are so grateful for any support you're able to give.