Help Melanie and Ryan During Evacuation

Do you feel helpless as you watch the news reports each day about the fires? Here’s something we can do RIGHT NOW to help!

I have just gotten some updates from my friend Melanie who is evacuated along with her husband Ryan and their two daughters. Here’s the current situation: the western edge of the Alexander Mountain Fire is only a few miles from their neighborhood.

But, they are off of the mountain and safe!!!!

Their donkey and horses are being well taken care of thankfully!!! They recently got to FaceTime with their animals, resulting in many happy and sad tears. It is so hard for them to be separated from their “kids” as they call them.

But, one of their two pigs, Wilbur, escaped while they were packing up to leave the mountain.

Fortunately, the firefighters are watching out for her, and she has become their little mascot!

Melanie and Ryan are struggling to find good affordable lodging. And, their insurance will only give them money for lodging if their house burns down! We have faith in the incredible firefighting team and we know that their house will be saved. And so all of their expenses are going to be out of pocket.

The roads are all closed, so they are stuck in the tiny town of Estes Park. Although it’s a gorgeous place, in the summer time it is also FULL of tourists. And hundreds of evacuees are now trying to find rooms. There is literally NO lodging available. There are no good places to stay for a family of 2 adults, 2 kids, 3 dogs, and a trailer with a pig. After moving around several times, they have found a kind host who is letting them stay, but because of the size of the home, it is $450/night.

Here’s where your donations will go: (DIRECTLY to Melanie and Ryan)

These are some of my favorite people on the planet.

If you know them, you know that they will give you the shirt off their back, so it's our turn to give back and help them out during this difficult time.

**PLEASE NOTE: Some of these photos are obviously before the fire broke out. All of these photos have been shared with direct permission from Melanie and Ryan. Please do not share these photos (outside of GoFundMe) without their permission. Thank you.

-Joy