Hello everyone! My friend Sydney Cooper moved to New York City last July. On 11/17/25, her beloved apartment in the heart of Harlem caught fire, and in minutes she lost nearly everything. The place she called home was destroyed while she was away on her first day at a new job, resulting in a total loss.

She was lucky to have not been home, but her dog & best friend Nala was severely affected by the smoke and heat. She required emergency treatment for smoke inhalation, ulcers from the smoke, and they’re still facing ongoing vet visits and medication. The bills are already increasingly overwhelming.

Inside the apartment, all belongings were damaged or lost. Her laptop, which is her main tool for finishing her graduate program at NYU, was destroyed. She’s trying to replace essentials while staying on track to complete her degree, which she has worked extremely hard to attain. It is approaching finals season & her laptop was essential in order to stay on track for graduation in May 2026.

Sydney always tried to be someone who shows up for others, but right now she’s in a position where she could use some help. Anything you can contribute will go toward:

Emergency vet bills

Replacing her laptop for school

Clothing and basic necessities

Safe temporary housing while she rebuilds

No amount is too small, and even sharing this page helps more than you know. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping Sydney and Nala begin to rebuild after such a devastating loss.