2 years ago today we were sitting at the Red Cross devastated, 4 days before Christmas, newly homeless, confused, heartbroken and for me at least very numb. We were being given a new home for the next five days in a hotel room and some money for clothes as we were all in our pajamas, now the only clothes we own. Typically they only give 3 days in a hotel to fire victims. Due to the Christmas holiday they did not want our kids waking up Christmas morning to being sent on our way to no place to live so they gave us 5. We left and ran to grab a couple outfits for each of us to get us started but we were utterly exhausted as the fire that destroyed our home pushed us out at 3:30 in the morning. So off to the hotel we went. We werent in the room for 5 minutes when knocks started on our door. People were already finding us to give us food and hand me downs that we were so grateful for. One of the local food banks pulled together a box of food for us as well at the last moment. This is how we began feeling the love of our community that I grew up in. Later that day upon going onto Facebook to feel a little normalcy and I find a donation drop off site had been set up by a close childhood friend that was already starting to fill up very quickly. I started to feel and overwhelming sense of care and love from our community as well as from out of towners. One woman had been interviewed and said she was from Transfer and just happened to see this on the news and just knew she had to help. I realized that I may not have a home but I had a wonderful community and I knew then that everything would be ok. My children had the best Christmas of their lives that year complete with a police and fire escort bringing santa and more gifts than I have ever seen in my life. I seen presents that I had purchased for my children that had been ruined in the fire as well as many other gifts that I had considered Christmas shopping. I was so very grateful. And I knew my children were as well. Thw firefighters had salvaged a couple presents from the ruins that we were able to use. They saved my cat of 12 years who almost died in that fire by wrapping him up and giving him oxygen. To them I am also forever grateful. Unfortunately my cat has since passed on but had over a year of extra life that he almost didnt have. On this second anniversary of this horrible time I want to say thank you so very much to everybody that help us out that year. I have learned what it is to truly have nothing. I appreciated things before but since have appreciated things so much more because you truly dont know until you literally have nothing but the clothes on your back. This community pulled off a true Christmas miracle that year and I am truly grateful. My children and I will always be thankful for what was done for us that year.
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 15:33:30 +0000
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