Relocation & Medical Funds for Misplaced Family
Donation protected
UPDATE: 12/29/2020 - Sad News - Don passed away today. We are still working on getting the remainder of their belongings out of the house before the end of the month. It has been a very stressful week but everyone is pulling together to get things accomplished. Looks like we might need to rent a second unit at least for a month in order to everything stored.
On December 19, 2020 at approximately 1:30AM a car ran a stop sign, and crashed into the home of my oldest sister and her husband, Karla & Don Smith. The car went through the front wall of their rental home, traveling through the living room, bath room, bedroom closet and coming to a stop in the downstairs bedroom just a few feet from where Don was sleeping. Thankfully my sister and her husband were not physically injured during this ordeal, but everything in the cars path was destroyed, including most of her husbands clothes, their living room furniture, various electronics and many, many personal items that were in these rooms. The driver of the car was unharmed but the car took out several supporting structural beams and the house is not safe for them to enter or occupy at this time. The power had to be turned off to the home because of the extensive damage.
Karla & Don are temporarily staying in a spare bedroom with my mother Linda Conradi Barnes. Karla & Don both suffer from health issues and Don was recently diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that has spread to his liver and bones. He is not strong enough for the chemotherapy but is taking radiation treatments to help. Karla has spinal stenosis which prevents her from standing for long periods of time due to the constant pain. Don was the main source of income for the family and was a common fixture at the local Harvey's Supermarket and subsequently Bob & Jeff's IGA were he has worked for many years. The emotional and mental stress this has placed on Karla & Don as they try to sort out this disaster on top of keeping up with medical appointments, medicines and their day to day care is very draining on them
Karla & Don did not have the luxury of having renter's insurance, so much of what they lost will not be able to be replaced. The extensive damage and displacement of them from their home, leave Karla and Don facing unexpected financial burdens associated with finding a new place to live, moving and storage of their belongings and associated issues with their health. The family will be helping them get their belongings from the home once it is structurally safe to enter and we hope that they will be able to find somewhere affordable to stay
I know that one of the hardest things for a person to do is ask for help. We all feel like we can do it on our own, but in life things happen and they usually happen for a reason. If you can find it in your heart to help Karla & Don, your help is truly appreciated.
Donations can also be dropped off at Ameris Bank in Thomasville for Karla or Don Smith
Thank you for taking the time to look at this and for your consideration in helping support this family in need.
PS - To keep from confusing anyone, this is my first attempt at something like this and the reason you see Angela Odom as the Beneficiary is that she is our younger sister and is listed on the receiving account for the funds to help out my older sister.
On December 19, 2020 at approximately 1:30AM a car ran a stop sign, and crashed into the home of my oldest sister and her husband, Karla & Don Smith. The car went through the front wall of their rental home, traveling through the living room, bath room, bedroom closet and coming to a stop in the downstairs bedroom just a few feet from where Don was sleeping. Thankfully my sister and her husband were not physically injured during this ordeal, but everything in the cars path was destroyed, including most of her husbands clothes, their living room furniture, various electronics and many, many personal items that were in these rooms. The driver of the car was unharmed but the car took out several supporting structural beams and the house is not safe for them to enter or occupy at this time. The power had to be turned off to the home because of the extensive damage.
Karla & Don are temporarily staying in a spare bedroom with my mother Linda Conradi Barnes. Karla & Don both suffer from health issues and Don was recently diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that has spread to his liver and bones. He is not strong enough for the chemotherapy but is taking radiation treatments to help. Karla has spinal stenosis which prevents her from standing for long periods of time due to the constant pain. Don was the main source of income for the family and was a common fixture at the local Harvey's Supermarket and subsequently Bob & Jeff's IGA were he has worked for many years. The emotional and mental stress this has placed on Karla & Don as they try to sort out this disaster on top of keeping up with medical appointments, medicines and their day to day care is very draining on them
Karla & Don did not have the luxury of having renter's insurance, so much of what they lost will not be able to be replaced. The extensive damage and displacement of them from their home, leave Karla and Don facing unexpected financial burdens associated with finding a new place to live, moving and storage of their belongings and associated issues with their health. The family will be helping them get their belongings from the home once it is structurally safe to enter and we hope that they will be able to find somewhere affordable to stay
I know that one of the hardest things for a person to do is ask for help. We all feel like we can do it on our own, but in life things happen and they usually happen for a reason. If you can find it in your heart to help Karla & Don, your help is truly appreciated.
Donations can also be dropped off at Ameris Bank in Thomasville for Karla or Don Smith
Thank you for taking the time to look at this and for your consideration in helping support this family in need.
PS - To keep from confusing anyone, this is my first attempt at something like this and the reason you see Angela Odom as the Beneficiary is that she is our younger sister and is listed on the receiving account for the funds to help out my older sister.
Organizer and beneficiary
Rick Barnes
Organizer
Thomasville, GA
Angela Odom
Beneficiary
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