Fire's Devastating Effects on a Family
- Chris Andrade
- Feb 12, 2017
- 3 min read
When I was a teenager, I had a job at the grocery store and after school would often make my own dinner before work. On one particular afternoon, fried eggs were on the menu and in the middle of preheating the pan the doorbell rang. It was one of my friends from down the street and we got to talking. Before long, he stopped the conversation and asked "What's that smell?"
My brain kicked in realizing I had left a pan on a hot element and ran into the kitchen to find it dark (from the black smoke accumulating at the ceiling) and the pan on fire on the stove. I quickly extinguished it, opened all the doors and windows, and prepared myself to break the news to my father who was due home at any moment. Needless to say, we were VERY fortunate that the only damage was the kitchen requiring a fresh paint job (and a new frying pan). But what would it have been like for us if it were much worse?
A few short years later I was off to college where I met my friend Kevin. We became close quickly, him taking this shy kid under his wing and us embarking on years of friendship, adventure and shenanigans. Although I moved half-way across the country, we have managed to stay in touch from time to time. Unfortunately, our most recent correspondence was one filled with terrible news. Last Monday morning, his home caught fire and was severely damaged. Luckily, he was already off to work, his twin daughters and step-son were at school, and although his partner was at home with the pets, she managed to escape with the two dogs unharmed. Sadly, their cat Alley had to be rescued and resuscitated by the fire fighters and the latest word is the aging feline, a pet that has been with Kevin's girls since they were born, will not survive.
As a parent, the idea of a fire destroying your family home is terrifying. As I write this I struggle to even wrap my head around what they are going through, being a father of two young boys myself. Much of their belongings has been destroyed or ruined, which obviously can be replaced, and although some things that hold special sentimental value may be lost, memories will remain and new ones will be forged. In the short term, things are especially difficult and stressful for them, specifically the logistics of where a family of five people and two dogs will live and the financial burdens surrounding that seemingly insurmountable task. A friend of mine in the insurance industry advised me that financial assistance in the short term could still be a month away, while coverage for the long term and moving forward could be upwards of year. It's a trying time for Kevin and his family and they are relying on the kindness and generosity of family, friends and even strangers.
I think we can all appreciate how devastating this can be, and so on behalf of Kevin and his family I am sharing this information for ways people can help them move forward during this difficult time. There are three ways funds can be donated if you are so kind to do so:
1) You can visit any TD bank branch and make a deposit to account 3700-5233479.
2) You can make an interac e-transfer to landrymackenziefire@gmail.com. Make sure if you need a password or security answer, please use 'Stouffville' as the password or security answer (the question can be anything).
3) You can make a donation to a fund set up in Kevin and Cathy's name at https://gogetfunding.com/help-the-mackenzie-landry-family/
