Rebuild Hope for Kayla and August After Fire

Hello, my name is Kayla Perkins and I’m in need of some help. On July 16th, my apartment unit was set on fire. I went to put my son down for a nap when I heard the faint sound of a fire alarm going off. I got up to see if maybe I left the TV on, but sure enough, it was coming from the fire alarm downstairs. I grabbed my 3-year-old son as quickly as I could and my dog with the help of my boyfriend. I was hoping someone was just pulling a prank, but as soon as I got downstairs, I saw the smoke pouring from my rooftop. I immediately went back in, threw my cats in a duffle bag, grabbed my purse, and rushed to my boyfriend’s car. It took well over an hour for the fire to be contained and over 4 hours to be deemed safe enough to grab “just what we need” for the night.

Since then, we have been homeless. I was able to receive help from my boyfriend in getting me and my son a hotel for the past few days, but now I am homeless. I am waiting to be housed but no word yet. I don’t really know where I will be staying. I was blessed enough to have an amazing aunt who has let me stay the night or possibly until I am able to get housed. I have since gone back to retrieve whatever I can, but the fire started in the unit directly behind mine. Because of the way the apartments are set up and due to the fire being directly behind my bedroom and closet, that is where most of the damage was caused. But there is also serious damage to every unit's attic, meaning major smoke damage. I also have serious water damage. There were 16 units total, and all were affected. We have all been unhoused.

I have made this GoFundMe mainly for my 3-year-old son. His 3rd birthday just passed on July 10th, and all of his toys and clothes are ruined either because of smoke damage or soot/ash. My closet was also destroyed, including a lot of pantry items. I also had to give a lot of food in my fridge and freezer away due to having to stay in a hotel the past few days and not wanting it to go to waste due to not being able to properly store them.

I am asking for $5,000 total to help with toys, clothes for me and my son, food, hotel fees, a new bed for me and my son, a new dresser, couch, dining table, pillows, blankets, possible apartment fees/deposits, kitchen items, and toiletries. Even if it’s just $1.00, anything would help! I’m happy me and my son made it out alive and no one was injured during this tragedy. Even if you cannot donate, please share. Thank you all for taking the time to read.

~ Kayla and August