My name is Angel Hamilton, and I’m fundraising for my best friend, Stephanie, a single parent living  in Peterborough, Ontario.

A few days ago, a devastating fire broke out in the unit next door in the middle of winter, caused by someone falling asleep with a cigarette. Although the flames didn’t begin in her home, the smoke, water, and emergency efforts have left her unit heavily damaged and unsafe without immediate cleanup.

While building insurance will cover basic structural repairs—like the ceiling and the door—everything else falls on Stephanie, and as a single parent already living on a tight income, she simply cannot shoulder these sudden costs alone. Filing a private insurance claim would cause her premiums to skyrocket, making it impossible for her to afford coverage in the future.

Right now she urgently needs help with:

Specialized cleanup and labour to remove smoke and soot

Cleaning supplies and protective equipment

Herbal and respiratory wellness remedies for herself, her daughter, and their pets after smoke exposure

Significantly increased hydro and water bills from running air purifiers, fans, and filtration

Dry cleaning and fabric restoration costs

Replacing her iPad, which firefighters accidentally stepped on during the rescue—an essential tool she relies on for her work

This has been a frightening and destabilizing event for Stephanie and her daughter, and every contribution—no matter the amount—will make an immediate difference in helping them recover, breathe safely, and return to a sense of normalcy.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and for anything you can give. Your kindness means more than you know.

With gratitude,

Angel Hamilton

Peterborough, Ontario Canada