Delaney Fire Disaster Fundraiser

A little after 8 p.m. on Friday, June 9, 2023, a massive fire broke out inside the house of our brother and sister-in-law in Alexandria, Virginia. By the grace of God, only our sister-in-law and her mother were home at that moment and were able to make it out, but barely and only with their lives. Within moments, the entire house was consumed from the inside, and all earthly possessions were lost. In addition, their two beloved rescue cats passed away in each other's comfort, to our family's utter heartbreak.

The magnitude of what it will take to rebuild their lives is enormous. All in our family are so grateful to God that all humans who live there were safe -- our brother, my sister-in-law, her elderly mother, their two sons and their older son's fiancee. But that tragedy of the devastating pet loss, as well as everything they've ever possessed is quite difficult to process at the moment. Every family valuable, all of our sister-in-law's research for her PhD she completed, every photograph, every favorite t-shirt. And some may not know that for decades, our brother has collected and built and created expert models depicting military history events; his work has been featured in several publications and he is brilliant. And now, everything is gone. And of course, the trauma of what could have happened is quite significant.

In this spirit, we are requesting support in the way of prayers and donations to help them rebuild their lives. Insurance will most likely support some major losses, but it will not come close to helping them in their journey.

I'd also like to take a moment to describe the people they are. My brother has selflessly given of himself to take care of others in his world, and has always had a special connection with every pet he's ever met. The loss of his cats for him is gut-wrenching. He has always volunteered to coach little league and help a friend.

My sister-in-law is a genius, who has worked for the Smithsonian for many years. She is a published author...not choosing to focus on the popular and lucrative choices; her research and work in photographic history has been in supporting communities of color (please see her work on the Scurlock Collection as a reference) and indigenous persons. In fact, she was on a trip to discuss her research on indigineous persons photography when she fell in the winter and suffered a massive leg break and was medically evacuated. Again, by the grace of God, she was mobile enough to get herself and her mother out of the house on Friday, but only barely.

Donations of any size are welcome and deeply appreciated, as are your warmest thoughts and prayers. This will be a difficult time, but we will endure and get through this together.

Warmest & God Bless all who read this,

Alexis Delaney Welker & Landon Delaney Holden