Victims of the Jan 29th 2021 Broadway Fire
Donation protected
January 29th, tragedy struck the homes of 3 families. A fire that started in one of the middle units has left 3 families homeless with small children and rendered almost a total loss of their personal possessions. My family could have been the 4th as we only recently bought a house and moved out. I am reaching out to friends and family to see if they could spare a few dollars to help these families get back on their feet.
My neighbor Nikki Lebranch tearfully told me the story of how she saved just to move into that apartment. When she moved in 3 years ago she had nothing but an old used mattress and a kitchen table. Over the last few years she had worked extra jobs and scrimped and saved to make the apartment a home for herself and her two children, Katrina, 6 and LJ, 3. Slowly but surely she added couches, beds, dressers, TV's, toys and an air conditioner. To her, each purchase, no matter how small, represented her struggle and all of her hard work.
Her latest purchase was a brand new mattress she'd had to buy on lay away she finally paid off. I remember her coming over to my house a month ago excited and gitty dragging me over to lay on her new bed. It was the first new mattress she'd ever had and she bought it herself.
If you've ever had to replace everything in your home you know just how insurmountable of a task it seems. As I type this sitting in the comfort of my own living room I have $600 just in used sofas, a modest TV and a lamp. That's just the bare bones. I set the goal I did to hopefully assist 3 families who have lost everything. I know it will only be a small boost to help them get back on their feet but every little kindness counts.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this story, share or post it on social media and an extra big thanks to those who have donated to the cause.
My neighbor Nikki Lebranch tearfully told me the story of how she saved just to move into that apartment. When she moved in 3 years ago she had nothing but an old used mattress and a kitchen table. Over the last few years she had worked extra jobs and scrimped and saved to make the apartment a home for herself and her two children, Katrina, 6 and LJ, 3. Slowly but surely she added couches, beds, dressers, TV's, toys and an air conditioner. To her, each purchase, no matter how small, represented her struggle and all of her hard work.
Her latest purchase was a brand new mattress she'd had to buy on lay away she finally paid off. I remember her coming over to my house a month ago excited and gitty dragging me over to lay on her new bed. It was the first new mattress she'd ever had and she bought it herself.
If you've ever had to replace everything in your home you know just how insurmountable of a task it seems. As I type this sitting in the comfort of my own living room I have $600 just in used sofas, a modest TV and a lamp. That's just the bare bones. I set the goal I did to hopefully assist 3 families who have lost everything. I know it will only be a small boost to help them get back on their feet but every little kindness counts.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this story, share or post it on social media and an extra big thanks to those who have donated to the cause.
Organizer
Meagan Walsh
Organizer
Freeport, IL
