On Friday night at around 11pm my parents, Maria & Nikolay, lost their home in a fire. Thankfully no one was home at the time, other than our kitten, Dumpling, who miraculously survived and was found in the home by firefighters after the fire was put out. He had to be treated by an emergency vet for smoke inhalation but is recovering well.

The house is a total loss. The roof collapsed and almost everything inside has been destroyed be either fire, smoke, or water. Very few things are salvageable. They lost all of their things, including family heirlooms and irreplaceable photos from their life before coming to Canada.

my parents moved to Canada from Russia and Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union. They came to Canada with nothing and worked incredibly hard to get everything they had, just to lose it suddenly.

they are currently staying in a hotel with my 16 year old brother, Anthony, and their 5 month old puppy and kitten. We are trying to figure out the insurance process but it’s very slow & some losses will never be compensated.

we are asking for any support to help through this incredibly difficult time. Funds will go directly to: temp housing and food, replacing basic essentials, and covering gaps and delays with insurance.

In addition to the material losses, my parents are also facing a sudden and complete loss of income. Due to the nature of their jobs, they can only be paid when they’re physically at work, there’s no sick leave or emergency pay available through their employment channels. Right now, it’s simply not possible for them to return to work as they’re dealing with insurance claims, housing arrangements, and the legal aftermath of the fire. The money will also help support them through this period of financial instability, so they can focus on putting their lives back together without the added stress of lost wages.

if you’re not able to donate, even sharing the page means so much and would be greatly appreciated. Incredibly thankful for any help or kindness during this time <3