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Starting over after a fire

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I am a single-mother of five, 4 boys and a girl ranging in age from 1-11. Yesterday, March 25 at approximately 3pm, our home burnt. We were left with nothing. We moved to this area of Western Oklahoma 3 years ago with nothing more than ourselves and what clothing we could pack into the back of a rental car. In that time we've stressed and struggled and our tears and triumphs had both their rewards and their failures, but we were finally in a position to begin being much more hopeful for the future. The children are home-schooled and I have run a business from home so that my single-parent status didn't leave them as latch-key kids or being raised by strangers. We made a lot of sacrifices when it came to possessions, but we also were beginning to finally create a new life for ourselves we could all be proud of. Then, yesterday, disaster struck. Now everything we've worked so hard for, 3 years of sweat and blood and tears all down the drain in one fell swoop. I am a prideful person. I know that's horrible, but I can't help it. I hate asking for things. I'd be the first person to give, but asking feels to me like an admission of incapability and that's hard for me. I want to be capable of providing for these wonderful little people I brought into this world. I want to see their happiness reflected on their faces every day and think "I did that", but this is no time for vanity or pride. I am using every bit of resolve I have left in my body to beg you, friends and strangers alike, to help me get my children into a home again. I'd give my last breath in exchange if I thought it would make the difference. I may not deserve the help, God knows I've made my mistakes along the way, but these babies of mine are so deserving. I literally have nothing else but love to give them at this point. Please help me give them a life back. We've got a hotel room for three days, courtesy of the Red Cross. After that time is up we're on our own. I'd love to have a place to take them, and the ability to pay a few months rent while I work my hardest to get us back on our feet after this devastation. I don't know where else to turn. You are my last resort. I really thought hard about how much to ask for from this site. $500 felt like too much and $10k not enough to replace what we've lost. The truth is, that every single penny, even if that's all you can give will help. I have no expectations or ambitions. Just know that if you do help, or even if you can't but you wanted to, I WILL pay it forward some day. I know our life will never be the same. I can never replace the baby pictures or the kids' artwork or first outfits or anything else I had saved over the years because they are priceless, but I'm hoping to at least replace the sense of security they had two days ago before this awful thing took over their lives.

Organizer

Michella R. Stewart
Organizer
Clinton, OK

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