Martha after Paradise Fire
Martha is a 65-year old-disabled woman who lost everything in the Paradise fire. This GoFundMe is to help supply her with a life starter-kit for what she lost: clothing, kitchenware, furniture, appliances, etc.
On November 8, Martha was awakened by a neighbor pounding on her door, telling her a fire was coming. She woke her adult son, who is her caretaker, and he grabbed an armful of stuff and went to the car. He looked up and saw the trees burning above him. He then helped his mother get her purse and medications and they left. In their pajamas. To get out, they drove through fire.
Martha’s 35-year-old single wide mobile home was burned to the ground (photo above). Her income is $930/month disability, so she couldn’t afford insurance. After the fire, FEMA gave Martha $1,100, which is what they determined was the value of her home.
With the help of family, Martha and her son stayed in a motel room for 3 nights, then went to a shelter in Yuba City, California. They were there just over a week. FEMA pays for motel rooms for needy evacuees, so they found a room in Quincy, California, which is fairly remote, but the only room they could find. They stayed there until they could get a room in the Redding, California area.
After trying to rent conventional apartments and for a week and being turned down, they learned about a HUD low-income apartment complex. The management did their background checks and income verification in record time, so Martha and her son could move into an apartment on Christmas Eve.
Talking to Martha is a lesson in gratitude: with awe in her voice, she describes each piece of clothing that they gave her when she arrived at the shelter in her pajamas. On the day after Christmas, Martha's sister Susan will travel from Washington state to California and help Martha get settled in her new place. Martha has nothing now, just her car and a few clothes acquired since the fire. This GoFundMe is to help Martha buy everything for her apartment. Furniture. Kitchen goods. Linens. Everything. Whatever you give will go to help Martha, as Susan will pay all of her own expenses.
We are hoping to get enough to pay for not only the necessities, but to also replace her beloved art and craft supplies. In the comments, you can see a painting by Martha that she gave to her sister Susan -- it is her only surviving painting. She and her family are deeply grateful for all the help she receives. Thank you for caring.
