On the Fourth of July, what started as a severe storm turned into a nightmare for one of my closest friends, Becca, and her family.

A tree fell onto a power line, causing a transformer to explode and ignite a fire in the basement while no one was home. Thankfully, firefighters rushed over and were able to put it out before their entire house was engulfed.

While the fire was contained to the basement, the damage was not. Toxic smoke and soot spread throughout the entire home, contaminating and destroying nearly everything they own. Their house is no longer safe to live in and must be completely gutted and rebuilt, a process expected to take at least a year.

This is a heartbreaking reminder that you don’t have to lose your entire house to lose your home. Even a “contained” fire can take away a family’s livelihood in an instant.

As they navigate the immediate financial burden of temporary housing and replacing necessities, I’m asking for your help. Any donation, no matter the amount, will go directly toward helping them rebuild their lives during this incredibly difficult time.

If you’re unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser would mean the world. Thank you for supporting a family that never could’ve imagined their lives changing so drastically in a day.