Dear Family and Friends,
I write to ask for your support in helping my young friend, Anna, and her family to get back on their feet after an accidental fire destroyed their house and rendered them homeless.
This is an urgent appeal. Anna, who is sixteen, Anna's four-month old daughter, and her grandma have very few options and are likely to remain homeless unless we offer our support and assistance.
As many of you know, Anna and I met two years ago as part of the Friends mentoring program. Friends is a local non-profit organization that helps children in Walla Walla County engage in safe, youth-focused friendships with adults. It has truly been a privilege and a pleasure to have my young friend in my life.
The Fire
Two weeks ago, Anna's grandma was looking after Anna's daughter while Anna was at school. While heating up a bottle for the baby, Grandma fell asleep and the kitchen caught on fire.
Fortunately, no one was hurt. However, the kitchen was severely damaged (as you can see from the attached photo, the ceiling was destroyed and there is no longer a roof above the kitchen). The rest of the house also suffered extensive water damage following firefighters' efforts to put out the blaze. Carpets and insulation will have to be replaced, and electricity will have to be reinstalled, before the family will be permitted to move back in.
The Appeal
The family did not have insurance, and as a result, the house remains uninhabitable. Right now, they are staying in a motel. A local non-profit has offered to pay for their accommodation, but they must check out in a few days' time, once the money runs out. After that, they may not have anywhere to go.
The goal of this fundraising appeal is to provide the family with emergency housing. We also hope to make the necessary repairs to get the family back into their house before the weather turns.
Here's what we plan to do with the funds we raise:
- $1,000+ raised will ensure that Anna, her daughter and her grandmother have safe, temporary housing while their house is repaired.
- $3,000+ raised will allow us to make emergency repairs to the house, making it habitable again.
- $5,000+ raised will allow us to make significant repairs to the house, and to purchase insurance.
If each of you donates just $20, we will be able to reach our first, and most important, goal, very quickly.
All donations will go into a charity account at Baker Boyer Bank, and will be managed by an independent third party.
Thank you so much for your support. I am eternally grateful.
In love and friendship,
Sonja
*I have changed my young friend's name in order to protect her privacy.
I write to ask for your support in helping my young friend, Anna, and her family to get back on their feet after an accidental fire destroyed their house and rendered them homeless.
This is an urgent appeal. Anna, who is sixteen, Anna's four-month old daughter, and her grandma have very few options and are likely to remain homeless unless we offer our support and assistance.
As many of you know, Anna and I met two years ago as part of the Friends mentoring program. Friends is a local non-profit organization that helps children in Walla Walla County engage in safe, youth-focused friendships with adults. It has truly been a privilege and a pleasure to have my young friend in my life.
The Fire
Two weeks ago, Anna's grandma was looking after Anna's daughter while Anna was at school. While heating up a bottle for the baby, Grandma fell asleep and the kitchen caught on fire.
Fortunately, no one was hurt. However, the kitchen was severely damaged (as you can see from the attached photo, the ceiling was destroyed and there is no longer a roof above the kitchen). The rest of the house also suffered extensive water damage following firefighters' efforts to put out the blaze. Carpets and insulation will have to be replaced, and electricity will have to be reinstalled, before the family will be permitted to move back in.
The Appeal
The family did not have insurance, and as a result, the house remains uninhabitable. Right now, they are staying in a motel. A local non-profit has offered to pay for their accommodation, but they must check out in a few days' time, once the money runs out. After that, they may not have anywhere to go.
The goal of this fundraising appeal is to provide the family with emergency housing. We also hope to make the necessary repairs to get the family back into their house before the weather turns.
Here's what we plan to do with the funds we raise:
- $1,000+ raised will ensure that Anna, her daughter and her grandmother have safe, temporary housing while their house is repaired.
- $3,000+ raised will allow us to make emergency repairs to the house, making it habitable again.
- $5,000+ raised will allow us to make significant repairs to the house, and to purchase insurance.
If each of you donates just $20, we will be able to reach our first, and most important, goal, very quickly.
All donations will go into a charity account at Baker Boyer Bank, and will be managed by an independent third party.
Thank you so much for your support. I am eternally grateful.
In love and friendship,
Sonja
*I have changed my young friend's name in order to protect her privacy.