Melissa Hillis

My name is Melissa Hillis, and on January 18th, my life changed forever. My home was completely destroyed in a fire caused by a heater that was given to me by someone who no longer lives on my property. The loss was devastating—not only did I lose my home and everything I had worked for, but I also lost my two beloved dogs, Bandit, who had been with me for ten years, and Luna, who I had for a year. The pain of losing them is something I can never put into words. This tragedy comes on top of already grieving the loss of my boyfriend, Bob Adams, who was hit and killed almost two years ago. The last couple of years have been incredibly hard, but I have been doing my best to keep going. I’ve been cleaning up my property and even managed to have a trailer brought in so I can start rebuilding. Now, my biggest challenge is getting my power restored so I can live on my property again. St. Vincent DePaul has kindly offered to help with part of the cost, but I still need support to cover the rest. I have put so much into my place over the last two years, and now I have to start all over again. I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from this, but I am determined to rebuild and move forward. Any help you can give would mean the world to me as I try to get back on my feet. Thank you for your time and support.

On January 18th, the unthinkable happened to me. My mobile home caught on fire due to someone tweeting on a heater. I mean, take it apart and put it back together, and then give it to someone. My beloved dog, Bandit, who I had for 10 years, was lost in the fire. Bandit and I had been grieving the loss of my boyfriend, who died 2 years ago this May. A couple of weeks after, I got a nice chunk of cash, which went towards improvements and a well drilled in December 5th of 2009. My husband was shot and killed in the back by his youngest brother, and a few years later, I got run over by a careless operator. He ran over me 3 times, and then this happened. It's pictures of people that have passed away and pets that can't be replaced. I had a few electricians come out, and I need to come up with $2900 to get an RV hookup put in since there's completely nothing left. Thank you for your time.

My name is Melissa, and I am reaching out for help after a devastating fire destroyed my trailer in the early hours of Sunday morning. In just seconds, everything I owned was gone—my home, my belongings, and even my brand new hot tub. The fire moved so quickly that I barely made it out alive, and I am still in shock from the experience. I am heartbroken over the loss, especially for my beloved dogs, and I am trying to find the strength to move forward. Right now, I am staying on friends' couches while I figure out my next steps. Thankfully, my property is paid off, and a friend has offered me a trailer to use. However, I need to restore power to my land so I can have a safe place to sleep and begin rebuilding my life. The cost to hire an electrician and get electricity back is more than I can manage on my own. I want to share that someone tried to set up a GoFundMe for me, but it was not in my name, so I had to report it and have it taken down. This fundraiser is set up by me, and any support will go directly to helping me recover. I am deeply grateful for any donation or for sharing my story with others. Your kindness will help me take the first steps toward a new beginning, and I appreciate your support more than words can say.