Help Your Neighbor This Holiday Season
Jenny and I came home from some last-minute shopping today to see fire trucks on our street. At first we thought the worst - that our house caught fire while we were gone. Turns out it was our neighbors' home. Because we have both been so busy with school and work, there are a few neighbors that we have not ever met. Today we met the Jessen Family for the first time. Gary, Nicole, and their children are officially without a home on the day before Christmas. Something happened with their Christmas tree that sent it instantly into flames.The house was engulfed in flames and smoke within a few minutes.
Luckily everyone made it out without any injuries. Another family on our street is having them over for Christmas dinner. They are still waiting to find out how long the repairs will last. They're renting the home, and luckily they have renter's insurance. Their insurance is putting them up in a hotel tonight, but we're sure that life is going to be difficult for them in the coming weeks.
They have three teenage children - two boys and a girl. Nicole is trained as a CNA, and recently was laid off. She told us that her employer let her go because she missed too much work. She was missing work to be with her husband, Gary, in the hospital. Talk about a depressing situation.
I've set up a donation site for the Jessen's through PayPal. If you can find it in your heart to donate anything, it will be much appreciated this holiday season. Click the Donate button below to be taken to the site.
If you live in the Queen Creek, AZ area and would like to drop off any donations, please email me at alan.bradford@asu.edu and I will arrange a time and place to meet. If you know of anywhere that is looking to hire someone with CNA training and a medical field background, leave a comment below and I can put you in touch with Nicole.
Thank-you to everyone. Please forward this along to friends and family that would be willing to help.
