I’m MaryJo, a single mom to two wonderful children, Harper (4) and William (7). After recently moving back to Louisiana and beginning to rebuild our home and stability, an electrical fire in November completely destroyed my bedroom and spread through my children’s rooms, leaving nearly everything covered in soot and smoke damage. We lost clothing, beds, toys, daily necessities, and the sense of security we were working so hard to regain. While my community has been incredibly supportive, the fire disrupted my budget, work, and holiday plans, and the emotional toll has been heavy as my children adjust to yet another sudden change. This fundraiser is to help us replace essentials, get through the winter, and regain our footing emotionally, physically, and financially as we move forward together. Update: The first $900 raised through this GoFundMe was used to get us through the holidays. Since then, I’ve lost a family member, had the flu twice, and struggled with childcare while my oldest was home for winter break. Anything raised beyond that will go towards childcare for my youngest child while I finally go back to work, as rent and the cost of living is still piling up and Christmas has come and gone. Anything helps. Anything at all. All funds donated have already been — and will continue to be — sent directly to my landlord, Alex, my babysitter Angel and food in our lovely new rental home.