Help Sharon Rebuild After a Devastating House Fire

Help Sharon Rebuild After a Devastating House Fire

First and foremost, we are so incredibly grateful that Sharon and her family are safe. A devastating fire swept through Sharon’s Marshalltown home recently, but by the grace of God, everyone made it out alive. This was no small miracle – Sharon’s young grandson, Kaedyn, spotted thick black smoke creeping through the house and heroically alerted everyone in the middle of the night. Thanks to Kaedyn’s quick thinking, he got his grandma and family (and later their pets) out to safety just in time. The Marshalltown Fire Department arrived swiftly and managed to contain the blaze, saving the house from complete destruction. We thank God, Kaedyn, and the firefighters for making sure this terrifying night didn’t take any lives. Our hearts are full of gratitude that what was lost in the fire was “just” material – not our loved ones.

From Helping the Homeless to Facing Homelessness

For those who don’t know Sharon, she has a heart of gold and a long history of helping others. I first met Sharon this winter when she was providing an overnight warming center for the homeless in Marshalltown. In fact, Sharon has spent years volunteering to help homeless people in our community. She’s the first to offer a warm meal, a blanket, or even a place to stay to anyone down on their luck. She has opened her home and her heart to strangers in need, never asking for anything in return. Sharon has literally helped hundreds of people find shelter and hope – she’s been a guardian angel to the homeless in Marshalltown.

Now, in a heartbreaking twist of fate, Sharon is facing homelessness herself due to this fire. After a lifetime of giving and caring for others, she never imagined she’d be the one in need of help. But this devastating fire has upended her life, and now it’s our turn to help Sharon – the same way she has helped so many of us.

Devastating Damage & Current Challenges

While we are thankful the house still stands, the damage inside is extensive. The intense heat melted wiring and even walls in the basement, and thick smoke ruined almost everything in its path. Nearly all of Sharon’s belongings were destroyed by fire, smoke, or water. This includes not just furniture and clothing, but also countless irreplaceable sentimental items – family photo albums, children’s keepsakes, heirlooms that spanned generations. The home that was filled with memories and love has been left a charred shell of what it once was.

Officials have declared the house uninhabitable until major repairs can be made. This means Sharon and her family cannot live there for now. Sharon, her family, and their beloved pets are now crammed into a small motel room, which will be their “home” for the foreseeable future. They are grateful to have a roof over their heads, but it’s hard to compare a motel to the comfort of your own home. They are living out of suitcases, trying to make do without even the most basic of their possessions.

To make matters worse, the family’s car is also out of commission. In the chaos of the fire’s aftermath, their only vehicle has broken down (possibly due to stress on the engine or electrical issues). With their car not running, it’s become incredibly difficult for Sharon to get to work, run errands, or take care of basic needs while also dealing with the fallout of the fire. Imagine facing all of this at once: no home, no belongings, and now no reliable transportation.

Despite these overwhelming challenges, Sharon’s spirit remains unbroken. She is emotionally shaken and exhausted, yes, but anyone who knows her will tell you that she is strong, resilient, and full of faith. In the midst of this hardship, Sharon continues to say how thankful she is that her family is safe – that is the kind of person she is. She’s holding onto hope that this is just a temporary trial and that with time and support, she will rebuild and return home.

Hope, Faith, and Community

Sharon is a woman of deep faith. Even now, with her life turned upside down, she believes that God will provide and that brighter days are ahead. Her positive outlook in the face of adversity is truly inspiring. She often says, “God has a plan, and I trust Him.” That faith is carrying her through each day.

What’s also carrying Sharon is the outpouring of love from the community. Friends, neighbors, and even kind strangers have been checking in, offering prayers, bringing a hot meal, or donating a few clothes and toiletries. Our Marshalltown community is strong and tight-knit – we take care of our own. Now is the time for all of us to rally around Sharon, a woman who has been an angel to so many others. With our help, we can show her that she’s not alone in this struggle.

Every day, Sharon reminds us: “Things can be replaced, people can’t.” She is staying hopeful, knowing that with the support of family, friends, and generous people like you, she will get through this. She’s looking forward to the day she can move back home, resume her normal life, and get back to doing what she loves – helping others. With a little help from compassionate folks around her, Sharon’s story will continue as one of hope and love, not tragedy.

How Your Donation Will Make a Difference

We have started this GoFundMe campaign to help Sharon and her family rebuild their lives after this disaster. Our goal is to raise $7,000 to cover the many urgent expenses they are facing. This amount will primarily go toward paying a very high insurance deductible so that repairs on the house can begin as soon as possible. Without help, Sharon simply cannot afford this deductible, and the insurance won’t kick in to fix the house. We want to remove this financial burden from her shoulders immediately.

In addition, your donations will help with other critical recovery costs, including:

Every single dollar raised will go directly to Sharon’s recovery. We are handling the funds with the utmost care and transparency, ensuring that your generous contributions provide the maximum relief to this family in need. If we surpass our $7,000 goal ( hoping and praying we do!), every extra penny will continue to support Sharon’s long-term recovery and get her fully back on her feet.

Join Us in Helping Sharon — Your Support Matters

It’s not easy for Sharon to accept help – she has always been the one giving help. But now she truly needs us, and I know we can show her the power of community support. This is our chance to give back to someone who has given so much of herself to others. No one should have to go through something like this alone.

Here’s how you can help Sharon right now:

Let’s show Sharon that she is not alone and that her years of kindness have not gone unnoticed. Together, we can help turn this tragedy into a story of hope and community love. Sharon has always had faith in others; let’s reward that faith by coming together for her now.

Please Donate & Share

On behalf of Sharon, her family, and all of us who love her, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for reading her story and for any support you can give. ❤️ Your generosity will directly help a wonderful woman reclaim her life after this disaster.

Please donate what you can, and share this campaign with everyone you know. Let’s spread the word and get Sharon the help she needs to rebuild her home. Every share and every donation means the world to this family.

Sharon has spent a lifetime lighting the way for others in their darkness – now it’s our turn to be the light for Sharon in hers. With your help, we can get Sharon and her family back home, rebuild what was lost, and remind them that hope is stronger than any fire.

Thank you, and God bless.

Rep. David Blom