My sister Lauren and her family just experienced one of my worst fears: a house fire.

Yesterday, while she was out with the kids, Lauren got a call she thought would be about a loose farm animal. Instead, she was told that her home was on fire—and asked if there were any animals inside. (Thankfully, the dogs are safe!)

She rushed home to find multiple fire trucks from surrounding towns battling the flames. At this point, we don’t yet know whether their home will be a total loss or if it can be salvaged, but what we do know is that it’s currently uninhabitable.

Lauren, Jason, and their four children are still trying to process everything and figure out what comes next. The Red Cross was able to provide a hotel room for the night and a few basic essentials like toothbrushes. But beyond that, there’s a long road ahead.

In the meantime, they need to:

Find temporary housing

Replace clothing and personal items

Eat out until they have a kitchen again

Cover day-to-day living expenses

As we all know, insurance doesn’t move quickly—and doesn’t always cover everything. I’m hoping that, with the support of family and friends, we can come together to lighten the financial load for them.

No amount is too small, and every gesture means the world right now. Let’s remind them they have a village behind them.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for anything you're able to give or share.