I just heard that friends, a family of ten, had a house fire yesterday and lost all their possessions. I don’t know the details but I do know they were home and thankfully everyone made it out safely.
A year and a half ago our family went through the same thing and I learned so much through the extraordinary support of our amazing community.
I offered to make a list of some things that were very helpful to us after our house fire to give some guidance to people who want to help but don’t know what to do. If your heart is hurting for this family I have some suggestions for how to express your care and concern:
1. Send money. This is quite simply the most helpful thing you can do. No amount is too small. Don’t worry about a card or writing something eloquent. Fill out a check and send it.
2. Send a gift certificate to stores like Meijer, Target or Walmart. The family will be able to buy groceries, clothes and many home items. Again, don’t worry about the amount. Every little bit helps.
3. Give clothes or home items. Be really thoughtful here. In this family everyone is under 40, if you are 85 and thinking about donating your sweet cruise wear from 1987, just don’t. They’ve already been through enough!
4. Buy groceries or make food. Once the family is settled in a new house buy them groceries or bring them meals. Make a big casserole in a 9×13 and leave the pan as a gift or use disposable containers.
5. Write a card/email/facebook post. Keep it brief. “I’m so sorry. I’m thinking about/praying for you” doesn’t seem like much but it really is more than enough.
6. Spread the word. Tell business owners and anyone you know. You will be amazed how many donations are given.
7. Pray. I know it wasn’t very spiritual of me to put this last, but if you are a person who prays, you started as soon as you heard the news. Keep it up.
We were astonished and humbled by the extraordinary generosity of our community. It was a beautiful and bright light shining in the darkness.
Thanks for the info, Alison!
I used to think that money donations were not needed for people who had insurance. Then I met a family who were three years beyond their fire and still fighting with their insurance company to get the money they were owed. They had been pushed to the point of having to hire an attorney to pry the money out of the insurance company. Crazy!
Me too, Pam. We had short term savings and were well insured and (in the beginning) I was embarrassed and uncertain about all that we were given. “Do people understand that we’re insured?” I asked Paul time and again as arrangements were made for us by amazingly generous people.
By the end I was only grateful.
P.S. That’s the infamous jadeite green mixer in the background.
I laughed about your comment on not passing along your cruise wear from 1987, because there are so many 20-somethings who would love to have the “vintage” clothing! Kids are weird! LOL
Thanks for the list. Hope I wasn’t the one that offered the cruise wear from 1987…i’m still in my 40’s ! I did pray & still praying. Cynthia ~ neighbor
Cynthia, it wasn’t you! You gave me a pretty eyelet skirt.
I had widowers willing to ship their dead wives clothes. God bless them!
I would grab my iPhone real quick because I’m not buying another one if it gets trapped in a house fire.