The Millers- Victims of Thomas Fire

My name is Molly McBride. I am a southern California resident (Thousand Oaks) & I am the girlfriend of Ian Durham, a life-long Ventura County resident. Recently, his family’s home was burned to the ground on Tuesday morning (12/05/17) by the Thomas Fire that struck their beautiful neighborhood, Foothill Drive.  

His brother (Jimmy), mother (Anita), father (Jim), 87-year-old grandfather (Rex), and dog (Piper) were forced to evacuating - leaving everything behind. This home had been in their family’s possession for multiple generations. Accumulating to over 30+ years of memories & shared love stories, that are now forever gone. 

His grandfather Rex, a veteran & Ventura local, was forced to leave hundreds of memories of his beloved wife on the walls. All personal photographs / memories of her & their life together, gone. Countless relics from his past, like his grandmother’s childhood belongings from Japan... all burned. 

Anita lost every family photo albums of her own sons (Ian +Jimmy). Of her own childhood & of her own mother & father... again, generations worth of relics, family albums, etc. All taken in this tragedy.  She even lost her wedding rings. Unable to go back for them in the state of evacuation panic.  Left with nothing but the clothes on her back. 

Jim, Ian's father, lost his most prized possessions. Collectibles he'd been taking great care of for over 15+ years. All his music & childhood memories as well.  He too, left with nothing but the clothes on his back. 

Ian and Jimmy... lost their childhood home. Where they became the men they are today. Life long memories that literally can never be replaced, but always remembered. And that's where they will be embedded. In pure thought, storytelling, and memory. Ian lost items from his draft day for the Phillies, personal items he hoped to give his own children one day. And Jimmy lost many, many painfully personal items as well. 

Even through all this tragedy, at the end of the day it's just stuff. It's important we remember and thank God, that safety is everything. Everyone is alive, and I thank God, we're still able to see their smiling faces. 

I would like to help raise money for The Millers. People who bleed Ventura through and through. A family who has done so much for the community for 20+ years.  Donations to churches, community services, school functions & philanthropic endeavors. 

Anita is a member of several local churches, & always puts others well being before herself. She's given her life to God and does His work every single day. She takes care of her own family as well as others. Every single day.  The beauty is that she wouldn't have it any other way. She is a kind, gentle woman who through this devastation has not lost Faith in Him, nor the Faith of positivity. She is a pre-school teacher at the Ventura Missionary Church, that thankfully is still standing. But until further notice she cannot go back to work to continue her missions due to the state of the air quality. With work gone, her family upheaved, it is safe to say there are some costly items hitting them full force right now. 

I would like to call upon all of the loving Christians who have faith in Anita and Ian's family as well as the community to partake in the raising money so that Anita and her family can focus on themselves and the care for each other during this terrible, terrible time.  Even if it is in the smallest of ways. A prayer.  A thought. A feeling. A donation. Anything helps. 

Being so close and watching the disaster unfold and knowing I physically could do nothing... killed me. But, what I can do is help organize a fundraiser to bring our community together and help The Millers. The money will go towards living expenses / day - to - day items such as: clothes, daily necessities (food, water, toiletries, dog food, shelter). They're currently residing in a one bed room hotel room with 4 people and a dog. 

My goal is to raise $10,000. Which will cover some of the items they need (mentioned above) - all which insurance is not covering for. All out of pocket right now. Truly anything helps!

Thank you and God Bless.