Help Mark & Melissa’s Family after Marshall Fire

On Thursday afternoon, our home and our whole sweet little cul-de-sac (Eldorado Lane) of about 50 homes was engulfed in flames from the Marshall Fire. In our home lived 2 adults, Mark Wiranowski and I (Melissa Lockman), with our daughter, Big Z (10yo), and our son Little Z (newly 6yo).

 

We left the house with nothing. It was chaotic and it was not at all clear that we were evacuating with the possibility of losing our home. Thought we'd return to Louisville in a couple of days with a charred Mesa. But then smoke was in the air as we were packing for the weekend and then a neighbor texted about a fire.

 

Trying to get the kiddos in the car, our daughter, Big Z, the 10yo looked at the smoke and screamed that she was not leaving the guinea pigs and she ran to the garage to get the travel carrier. She scooped them up along with short-term supplies of food and hay. And we were on our way. Still was not in my reality at all that we could lose our home. So we left, harried, without comprehending that this was a serious and dangerous fire.

 

We left with just about -- nothing. I was wearing my least favorite pair of jeans which will be my wardrobe for the coming weeks. But we had the guinea pigs. Thank the universe for that moment of clarity.

 

We're talking a lot about how every human does grief differently. Big Z is processing by methodically going through our entire home in her vast imagination and listing EVERYthing there. Sometimes she is just sitting at the table, pen in hand, scribing--staring off into space--scribing--staring off into space---scribing. Sometimes she insists that I come and sit with her and "help her" remember.

– from Melissa

 

Melissa and Mark have given us (Kat and Jenevieve) permission to do this GFM on their behalf. If you know them (any of us, really), it can be difficult to ask and receive help. Given the suddenness and magnitude of this tragic loss, they are welcoming all manner of help in trying to rebuild their lives from the bottom up.

Funds will go towards food, clothing, housing, therapy, pet supplies, and other basic necessities and rebuilding their lives. These funds will be withdrawn directly by Melissa Lockman.

Other ways to contribute: 
a meal: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/oq8158/updates/
or otherwise:  https://forms.gle/gi6xFdckEBDXKv7S9 
 

- from Kat and Jenevieve Russell - we both live in Boulder County. Kat is family, Jenevieve is friend/colleague at the JOY Collective.