Have you ever lost your home?  Not in the proverbial sense but in the real and physical sense.  Can you imagine that loss?  I honestly can’t.  A home is so much more than material possessions and decor.  A home is where families come together, good (and bad times) occur, where you find comfort and safety…where your memories are made and kept.
Yesterday, a family in my neighborhood had to watch their memories go up in flames with their home.  In just over 4 minutes, everything they had was gone.  Thankfully, they are safe but the loss of the memories and possessions will undoubtedly run deep for a long time to come.  A picture frame seems like such a trivial object until it is lost to tragedy because then the picture that was in it is lost too. 
As true neighbors who strive to help the people we know and even those we don’t, the people of our neighborhood sprung into action.  In less than 12 hours , a Facebook Group was created to get the word out about how to help, the HOA was contacted to arrange for drop-off of donations and everyone began searching for more information on how they could help this family cope during a time of intense loss and need.
Right now, as we all wait for more information about this family and what their eventual needs will be, the group is asking for gift cards to places like Target, Bed, Bath and Beyond, the local shopping malls, etc.  In a time of loss, we cling to the familiar; something that provides us comfort and reminds that it will all turn out ok.
We, as friends and neighbors, are hoping to help provide a little bit of that familiar for this family to help ease the pain of their loss.

If you would like more information on how you can help this family, please feel free to contact me and I will provide information on how and where to donate. Everything single thing makes a difference for this family as they have lost everything familiar to them and all of their material possession too.

UPDATED
If you wish to donate virtually, a donation site to collect monetar donations has been set-up here.