Help Lydia Recover From A Harrowing Fire

This is Idra, Omotara and Sarah. We are fundraising money to help our friend, Lydia, recover from a horrendous apartment fire that has left her homeless with severe injuries. Lydia Flores is a valued member of the LIU community as well as one of the kindest, most Godfearing people you'll meet. She is small but mighty and very, very joyous. In addition to being a wonderful poet and photographer, Lydia is a dedicated sixth-grade ELA Teaching Fellow. Unfortunately, due to the severity of her injuries, Lydia is unable to fulfill her duties as an educator at this time. She must first recover from her burns, for which she was hospitalized for over a month. We are so grateful that Lydia did not lose her life, but she has lost her livelihood, as well as all her worldly possessions. In addition to the trauma and expense of the fire, Lydia’s cost of living has increased due to injuries.

Like most educators and writers, Lydia lives paycheck to paycheck and cannot work while she recovers. Because her apartment is boarded shut, she has been placed in a homeless shelter. Therefore, we ask our communities to help Lydia cover: the emergency costs to pay for medical bills, costs associated with recovery therapies, medications and the initial housing costs for a new apartment. Fellow poets, writers, artists, readers, LIU friends, Brooklyners and compassionate souls alike, please give what you can and share Lydia’s campaign far and wide, so we can help Lydia begin to heal.