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TubbsFire- Need help staying afloat

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My name is Melita Combs and I am making this page on behalf of my mother Dusty Wroten.  As many of you know Santa Rosa has been severely affected by the Tubbs Fire.

On Monday morning my mom was awakened by smoke in her house.  She checked inside for source of smoke, then looked outside, saw more smoke, and turned on the radio.  

On the radio they were saying that the Santa Rosa Vets Building Evacuation Center was full.  She called the radio station, told them where she lived in Santa Rosa, and the radio guy who answered the phone told her, "Santa Rosa is on fire--get out immediately!"  

 Then she called me, hoping that I could come get her.  I told her that my house was burned down, that we'd all gotten out, that we were trying to evacuate but stuck in traffic, and she should leave right away.  I was worried, since the fires were growing and unpredictable, that she would be trapped without transportation, and unable to escape.

 She doesn't have a working car, so she started to call friends.  Basically all of her friends had already evacuated or didn't answer the phone, until finally one friend answered, who took her to an evacuation center. 

 A while back, in a different fire in Sonoma, my brother, her son, died in a car accident in a fire, which forever changed her.

My mom's been re-traumatized by all this: about my brother's death; about me, my sister, my fiance, our dog, barely escaping from our burning home; about the constant lack of control over the fires and threat to mass areas of Santa Rosa, and her difficulty escaping the fires due to her lack of working car..

 The lack of a working car affects her ability to get work, and has placed an immense hardship on her in regards to being able to pay her bills, which includes her rent. 

 Over the past several years things have progressively become more difficult for my mom to maintain.  I have done my best to help her when I can, but it has been years since she has had a working car.  She is, and has been, struggling to make ends meet. 

On top of other things, about a year ago her rent was raised $325 dollars.  With not having a working car, becoming extremely low income, and having higher bills than normal, it has been a constant catch up game, never knowing if she will be able to make it each month.  

Now, added to that, the fire has caused her to lose most of her work and income, which only adds more pressure to that strain. 

 Please help in anyway that you can.  I normally am her rock and help as much as I can but with losing my own home and all my belongings, this has been almost impossible.  Any money raised will help go towards rent, and bills, in addition to possibly purchasing a car or fixing her car (expensive repairs needed). 

Or if there is anyone that has any connections to individuals selling or giving away a good working car PLEASE contact me.

She has been offered work many times, work that requires a reliable working car. 

 She is a caring woman, who always puts others before her, and would do anything for someone in need.  Now she in the one in need. 

 

Sincerely,

Melita Combs

Organizer

Melita Stefanini
Organizer
Santa Rosa, CA

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