House fire destroyed everything
Donation protected
UPDATE 11/22/17: I'm happy to say that as of Friday Maranda & Mark have moved into a home. Thanks to all the help and support of our loving community.
We need about 8500.00 for the demolition. We're about 1/2 way there. Thank You EVERYONE!!! If anyone is interested in helping in that manner we would greatly appreciate it. You can either donate here or contact me at [phone redacted] to set up a meeting. We also are in need of contractors that are capable of doing a removal like this. If anyone knows of a company that can give us a quote we would appreciate the info.
As far as house hold items. The donations of clothes,housewares etc. was so great that Maranda and Mark and their children have everything they need to start their life over. Our community really stepped up. When I started this. I never thought that the response would be so grand that within less than 3 weeks they would have a home and everything needed inside of it. That is thanks to everyone that cared to donate or share our story to get it out to the community. We are forever greatful for all the love and support that was given to our family. I can't say thank you enough. I wish that everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know Maranda and Mark will thanks to you!!!!
I want to start by saying that usually our family can group together to fix major problems one of us has but this is TOO BIG even for us. Friday 11/3/17 started out as a typical work day and ended as one of the worst tragedies our family has ever experienced. I received a phone call about 8:19pm from my brother-in-law. He was trying to get in touch with my sister. She was working with me catering the United Way Power Of The Purse event at the Commonwealth Commerce Center in Jackson Michigan. He was calling because our childhood home that they've been raising their 5 children in for the past 6 years was in flames!!! I rushed to the home since I had just left work. On my way I called my boss so he could notify my sister of what was happening. Every second that went by their lives were burning away. So I just wanted to get there to see if I could help in anyway. When I arrived her husband was in the drive way while the Blackman Township Fire Fighters were working diligently to put all the fire out. They had to extinguish the fire a few different times in various areas. When I arrived my brother-in-law Mark VanHouten told me that their saint bernard had been located and had perished in the house but they still hadn't located the other 4 animals. Unfortunately by time they located them they had all parished. A Short time later my sister Maranda VanHouten arrived at what used to be our chilhood home and her current home. My boss thankfully followed her to ensure she arrived okay. When she got there. She seen the fire that was her life burning before her eyes. Sometime later they told us that everything in the home was a total loss. Between the fire damage,smoke damage,and the water they had to use to keep everything out. Nothing would be salvageable. From my mothers keepsakes from her mom that's deceased and her cedar chest full of all the memories she had kept from us 4 children to all the memories Maranda had acquired since meeting her husband and having their 5 children. It was all gone in a blink of an eye it seemed like and my sister just broke. She looked and felt so hopeless,lost,and displaced and had no idea where to turn or what to do next. I mean who anticipates losing thier home. So unfortunately they had no renter's insurance and my mom who had fallen on hard times didn't have any home owners insurance either. Now we're in the process of trying to get them back on their feet and into a home with furnishings. Not only do they have to rebiuld thier lives. They have to rebuild their 5 childrens lives. To try and put a price on someone's life is almost impossible. But I figure this account should hopefully give them a great start. To give you a little back story on them. They're both 27 and have been together for 11 years and married for 5 years. They have clawed their way to better their lives by going college while raising 5 children. Two of them have disabilities. First they went to Career Quest learning centers to get their medical assistant certificates. Once they graduated from that. They returned to Career Quest to complete their associate degree. They just finished. Their graduation is November 10th. (What an awesome graduation present huh)!! Maranda and Mark have always been the type of people that they more the merrier. So I've watched them help other family members time after time. They've opened their doors to squeeze a few more people in the house because they are family and need help. So now they need help a lot of help. This was the only way I could think to help that would make the most impact on their lives. I know some people aren't comfortable donating money. I'm going to include a PO. Box address and their cell phone number. If anyone would prefer to donate in other ways then monetarily. You can send any donations to P.O. Box 1613 Jackson, Mi. 49204 or you can call at 1-517-410-5715 or 1-517-888-6265 OR [phone redacted] and decide on a good meeting place for them to collect the donation. I'm including a list of things they need if anyone is interested.
UPDATE 11/14/17: OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WONDERFUL!! THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT HAS DONATED ITEMS OR MONETARILY WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. WE HAVE RECEIVED SO MANY DONATIONS. I'M GOING TO UPDATE THE LIST OF ITEMS NEEDED. IF ANYONE HAS ANY OF THESE THINGS PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF THE ABOVE NUMBERS. WE CAN SET SOMETHNG UP TO EITHER GET THE ITEMS TO US OR COME PICK THEM UP. I AM JUST AMAZED AT HOW EVERYONE HAS GROUPED TOGETHER TO HELP PIECE MY SISTER'S HOME BACK TOGETHER. NOW IF WE CAN FIND A PLACE TO PUT EVERYTHNG INTO WE WOULD BE GOOD TO GO.
WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT IT IS GOING TO COST ALMOST 8500.00 TO REMOVE THE TRAILER. SINCE MY MOM DIDN'T HAVE ANY HOME OWNERS INSURANCE. IT WILL ALL HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET SO ANY MONETARY DONATIONS WOULD HELP US GET CLOSER TO OUR GOAL AND BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. EVERYONE HAS BEEN SO WONDERFUL. WE JUST NEED A LITTLE MORE HELP SO WE CAN BEGIN TO HEAL AND START NEW MEMORIES. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO BE ABLE TO BEGIN TO MAKE OUR NEW MEMORIES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. HOPEFULLY IN MARANDA & MARK'S NEW HOME.
We need about 8500.00 for the demolition. We're about 1/2 way there. Thank You EVERYONE!!! If anyone is interested in helping in that manner we would greatly appreciate it. You can either donate here or contact me at [phone redacted] to set up a meeting. We also are in need of contractors that are capable of doing a removal like this. If anyone knows of a company that can give us a quote we would appreciate the info.
As far as house hold items. The donations of clothes,housewares etc. was so great that Maranda and Mark and their children have everything they need to start their life over. Our community really stepped up. When I started this. I never thought that the response would be so grand that within less than 3 weeks they would have a home and everything needed inside of it. That is thanks to everyone that cared to donate or share our story to get it out to the community. We are forever greatful for all the love and support that was given to our family. I can't say thank you enough. I wish that everyone have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I know Maranda and Mark will thanks to you!!!!
I want to start by saying that usually our family can group together to fix major problems one of us has but this is TOO BIG even for us. Friday 11/3/17 started out as a typical work day and ended as one of the worst tragedies our family has ever experienced. I received a phone call about 8:19pm from my brother-in-law. He was trying to get in touch with my sister. She was working with me catering the United Way Power Of The Purse event at the Commonwealth Commerce Center in Jackson Michigan. He was calling because our childhood home that they've been raising their 5 children in for the past 6 years was in flames!!! I rushed to the home since I had just left work. On my way I called my boss so he could notify my sister of what was happening. Every second that went by their lives were burning away. So I just wanted to get there to see if I could help in anyway. When I arrived her husband was in the drive way while the Blackman Township Fire Fighters were working diligently to put all the fire out. They had to extinguish the fire a few different times in various areas. When I arrived my brother-in-law Mark VanHouten told me that their saint bernard had been located and had perished in the house but they still hadn't located the other 4 animals. Unfortunately by time they located them they had all parished. A Short time later my sister Maranda VanHouten arrived at what used to be our chilhood home and her current home. My boss thankfully followed her to ensure she arrived okay. When she got there. She seen the fire that was her life burning before her eyes. Sometime later they told us that everything in the home was a total loss. Between the fire damage,smoke damage,and the water they had to use to keep everything out. Nothing would be salvageable. From my mothers keepsakes from her mom that's deceased and her cedar chest full of all the memories she had kept from us 4 children to all the memories Maranda had acquired since meeting her husband and having their 5 children. It was all gone in a blink of an eye it seemed like and my sister just broke. She looked and felt so hopeless,lost,and displaced and had no idea where to turn or what to do next. I mean who anticipates losing thier home. So unfortunately they had no renter's insurance and my mom who had fallen on hard times didn't have any home owners insurance either. Now we're in the process of trying to get them back on their feet and into a home with furnishings. Not only do they have to rebiuld thier lives. They have to rebuild their 5 childrens lives. To try and put a price on someone's life is almost impossible. But I figure this account should hopefully give them a great start. To give you a little back story on them. They're both 27 and have been together for 11 years and married for 5 years. They have clawed their way to better their lives by going college while raising 5 children. Two of them have disabilities. First they went to Career Quest learning centers to get their medical assistant certificates. Once they graduated from that. They returned to Career Quest to complete their associate degree. They just finished. Their graduation is November 10th. (What an awesome graduation present huh)!! Maranda and Mark have always been the type of people that they more the merrier. So I've watched them help other family members time after time. They've opened their doors to squeeze a few more people in the house because they are family and need help. So now they need help a lot of help. This was the only way I could think to help that would make the most impact on their lives. I know some people aren't comfortable donating money. I'm going to include a PO. Box address and their cell phone number. If anyone would prefer to donate in other ways then monetarily. You can send any donations to P.O. Box 1613 Jackson, Mi. 49204 or you can call at 1-517-410-5715 or 1-517-888-6265 OR [phone redacted] and decide on a good meeting place for them to collect the donation. I'm including a list of things they need if anyone is interested.
UPDATE 11/14/17: OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WONDERFUL!! THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT HAS DONATED ITEMS OR MONETARILY WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. WE HAVE RECEIVED SO MANY DONATIONS. I'M GOING TO UPDATE THE LIST OF ITEMS NEEDED. IF ANYONE HAS ANY OF THESE THINGS PLEASE CONTACT ONE OF THE ABOVE NUMBERS. WE CAN SET SOMETHNG UP TO EITHER GET THE ITEMS TO US OR COME PICK THEM UP. I AM JUST AMAZED AT HOW EVERYONE HAS GROUPED TOGETHER TO HELP PIECE MY SISTER'S HOME BACK TOGETHER. NOW IF WE CAN FIND A PLACE TO PUT EVERYTHNG INTO WE WOULD BE GOOD TO GO.
WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT IT IS GOING TO COST ALMOST 8500.00 TO REMOVE THE TRAILER. SINCE MY MOM DIDN'T HAVE ANY HOME OWNERS INSURANCE. IT WILL ALL HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET SO ANY MONETARY DONATIONS WOULD HELP US GET CLOSER TO OUR GOAL AND BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. EVERYONE HAS BEEN SO WONDERFUL. WE JUST NEED A LITTLE MORE HELP SO WE CAN BEGIN TO HEAL AND START NEW MEMORIES. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO BE ABLE TO BEGIN TO MAKE OUR NEW MEMORIES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. HOPEFULLY IN MARANDA & MARK'S NEW HOME.
Organizer
Brandi Warner-Tipton
Organizer
Jackson, MI
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