Tyler & Catherine Stokes Fire Recovery

The morning of October 14 my young neighbors, Tyler and Catherine Stokes, were awakened by their smoke alarm to find most of the house in flames.  They were able to grab their two young children and escape out the back door, literally in the nick of time before the flames, heat and smoke had cut off access.  They lost everything in the house as well as the house, which was gutted.  What didn't burn, melted.   They did not have renters insurance.  The heat of the fire also melted the side of Catherine's car and it is a total loss.  The car only had liability insurance on it.  They had only recently moved into this house and had just financed new appliances, all of which melted.  That loan still has to be paid off.

This is a young couple just starting out in life.  Tyler is a hard worker but his work can be intermittent, and like many young couples with children just starting out, they live paycheck to paycheck.

Many caring and generous people in Mebane have already started donating in-kind items for the children, in particular, to meet the most pressing needs for clothing.  Those donations are very much welcomed.   Lisa Donley is collecting in-kind donations at her shop in Graham.

Two Krafty
109 North Main St, Graham
Dad 36-32 pant, xl shirt, 13 shoe
Mom size 8 pant, M shirt, 9 shoe
David size 5T, shoe 12
Scarlett size 2T, shoe 6

As any of us know who have been through a personal or natural disaster and have lost everything, the needs are great and on-going to get back on one's feet, especially for young people just starting out with a new family.  In addition to in-kind donations, cash assistance is also needed.   The family needs cash to buy essentials that are not covered by clothing donations, to pay off the loan for the destroyed appliances, and to replace the totaled vehicle.

The goal of $6000 includes $3000 to pay off the loan for the new and now melted appliances, $2000 toward a down payment to replace the totaled vehicle, and $1000 for lost wages as Tyler has to take time off work to facilitate the recovery effort.  I realize this is an ambitious goal for a local fundraiser. Any donations, large or small, according to your means,  will help them move in the direction of getting back to 'square one'.   It will be a long road, no matter what, but financial donations from the community really do make a difference in whether a family can eventually recover from the effects of such devastating,  especially when uninsured, losses. 

Remember, lots of people donating small amounts according to their own means adds up.  You may not think a small donation will matter, but it very much does.

If you prefer to send a check or money order instead of entering credit or debit card information on-line, you can mail checks to me at 505 E. Graham St.,  Mebane, NC  27302  You can make the checks payable to Tyler Stokes, and I will acknowledge the increase toward the goal in an update, though it will not appear in the total shown on the GoFundMe page, (and you, unless you prefer to remain anonymous publicly.) 

On behalf of Catherine and Tyler,  I extend thanks and gratitude in advance.

Mary Jane "Janie" Endres