Support Quay and Her Nine Children After Devastating Fire

On the night of April 8, 2025, tragedy struck my daughter’s household. A devastating house fire started at their home and left everything inside singed and smoke riddled. For my daughter Shaquavia (Quay) Rutledge, a loving single mother of nine children, the loss is beyond words. In the blink of an eye, they lost their home, their cherished belongings, and everything they worked so hard to build. But with your help, they can begin to rebuild their lives and give this resilient family a chance to start again.

The Fire

The fire started unexpectedly, while they were away that evening getting dinner. They returned home to fire trucks, rescue vehicles, smoke, and flames. Quay, who has always put her children’s needs first, is grateful she nor any of the kids were physically harmed, but the family lost everything. Their clothes, school supplies, furniture, and keepsakes that held a lifetime of memories – all gone in an instant. To a family already struggling to make a better life for themselves, the emotional and financial toll is already overwhelming.

The Impact

The fire left them without a roof over their heads, and currently, they are staying in hotels, and with friends and relatives.

Though they are incredibly grateful for the love and support, their temporary living situation is not sustainable. The children, ranging from 0-13, have been particularly affected. Schoolwork has become harder, and the emotional toll on the kids is something no parent should ever have to witness.

My daughter is a fighter. She has always done her best to ensure her children have everything they need, despite financial struggles. But rebuilding their lives after such a loss is simply too much for one person to handle alone. Now, she is facing an unimaginable challenge – to rebuild everything from scratch.

This wasn’t just a loss of material possessions; it’s the loss of a sense of home, safety, and security.

How You Can Help

This GoFundMe campaign was created to help raise funds for my daughter’s family’s recovery. Your generous donations will go directly toward:

Temporary Housing: Ensuring they have a stable place to stay as they search for a permanent home.

Clothing and Essentials: Replacing the basic necessities, including clothing, shoes, and hygiene products for all nine children and Quay.

School Supplies: Helping the children get back on track with the school year and replace the laptops/tablets, backpacks, and supplies that were lost.

Furniture and Household Items: Rebuilding a home from the ground up, including beds, kitchenware, and other essential items.

A Call for Support

The Rutledge family is grateful for any support you can provide, whether it’s a financial contribution or simply sharing this campaign with others. No donation is too small. Every bit helps bring them one step closer to a new beginning.

Quay and her children have always been there for their community, offering help and support wherever needed. Now, they need you. Please help us support my daughter during this challenging time.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity, love, and support.

If mail is preferred send donations to:

Shaquavia Rutledge

P.O. Box 20362

Macon, GA 30205

Sizes for some of the clothing and shoes lost in the fire:

Boy - 14 pants L shirt shoes 6 1/2

Boy - 10 pants M shirt 3 shoes

Girl - 7/8 clothes size 3 shoes

Boy - 6/7 clothes size 13c shoes

Boy - 4t-5t clothes and size 12c shoes

Girl - 2t clothes size 8c shoes

Girl - 12-18 months clothes size 5c shoes

Boy - 12-18 months clothes size 5c shoes

Girl - 0/3 months clothes

Teen girl - XL clothes and size 8 ½ shoes

Teen girl - Medium clothes size 5 shoes

Mom - 2x and size 7 shoes