Fire. Lost everything. Can you help?

[SueJ]

I feel very disloyal to post but a friends house was destroyed by a fire over the weekend. It seems that it may have been a power surge and a plug in air freshener. I'm not exaggerating when I say destroyed.

Everything has gone apart from a few kitchen items. Her family have been rehoused now in Sydenham and have been given beds.

No one has been hurt and her 2 children are safe. She has 2 boys aged 12 and 14 and school have helped her get uniforms for them so they can restart school this week.

She is a proud woman and has a proud husband too and will not ask for help so, if I could ask my friends to

1. Be grateful for having our families safe with us

2. Be grateful for what we all have

3. Just have a look around our homes and think if there is anything that we all have too much of or if there is anything we could do without if necessary.

I'm meeting with her tomorrow to push to see how we can help. If it's ok with her, I'll post what she is desperate for and if I can make a match, I can collect this weekend and get it to her.

Thank you so much for reading this

SJ and friends

[EDmummy]

Poor things. Glad to hear they are all safe. I have a lovely wool floor rug that I was going to sell but they are welcome to it. It needs a clean but perhaps someone could do that for them. There may be one very small pen stain that may not come out. It?s only a few years old and from John Lewis. Let me know. I?ll look around for other items.

[chuff]

That's awful and like above poster, glad they're safe.

A list would be a good idea, I'm sure people would be willing to donate.

[mynamehere]

A list is a good idea. There must be space constraints and clear necessities.

[maxxi]

This is the kind of thing the forum is good at, definitely post a list and maybe a drop-off point if there are too many locations to pick up from.

[Take Note]

How awful, but good of you to think of this. Agree a list is best - sure I have things I can contribute.

[SueJ]

Thank you all.

She (they) spent yesterday and Monday sorting out a roof over their heads and school for the boys. Also, they are all still very shocked. She lived in Peckham and is now in Sydenham.

We are trying to be helpful, as everyone around her is, and trying not to bombard her with good intention ideas and goodwill. Today is the day of listening and actually doing so a list will follow.

It's amazing the power of the EDF and Facebook. For all of their faults, these are 2 incredible community supports.

I'll be back later when we know more with a list and timings for collections on Saturday. Hopefully we can help make her and her family comfortable while they are sorting themselves out

Thank you all again

SJ

[KrackersMaracas]

Hi SJ - do let us know when you know more. I have a bulky items collection booked for Tuesday and although items are used your friend is welcome to the items if she would like them.

[Blah Blah]

We would be happy to help too when that list is ready. Maybe even consider setting a 'just giving' page for those who might want to donate money instead. There are going to be things they will need to buy and with Christmas coming too, even a couple of hundred pounds raised would make a big difference I'm sure.

[pablogrande]

Hi Sue

I have some furniture and a few other bits in storage that may help, do let me know once you have a list