Help the Hoppers rebuild after the Boulder fires

Tom and Alie Hopper lost their home and every possession as part of the sweeping grassfires outside of Boulder, Colo., on Dec 30. Alie was at home and had minutes to evacuate their two daughters, Nova, 6, and Avery, 9, and the family’s dog, Layla.

 

Tom was away at work at the time, and his tools were all lost in the blaze. Alie works from home for EF Pro Cycling, and Tom’s trade is working as mechanic both for the professional cycling team and in Boulder. In one afternoon, the Hoppers lost a home, an office, and Tom’s way of making a living.

 

They are now starting from zero, searching for a rental home, and trying to preserve a sense of security and normalcy for their young daughters. And they need our help. The emotional cost of the fire is profound; the financial costs are something we can help with. They need lodging, food, and basics like toiletries and new clothes. Alie and Tom have gone deep for their communities over the years — and now we have the chance to do the same for them.

 

From Alie:

 

"We are safe.

 

Our home is not. We have lost everything in a raging angry fire today.

 

We are safe.

 

Our closets full of handmade sweaters knit with love by my mom are not.

 

We are safe.

 

The dining table crafted by my dad is not.

 

We are safe.

 

The girls stuffed animals, Christmas presents, sentimental keepsakes, blankets, artwork, baby journals, are not.

 

We are safe and we will rebuild along with our friends and neighbors who have also suffered devastating loss.

 

And also, today we have felt an incredible outpouring of love. Out of all this darkness, we feel light from around the globe and it has helped each of us get through the day. From the bottoms of our hearts, thank you to our friends and family for sending love, offering us clothes, food, stuffies, shelter, a virtual shoulder to cry on. We are so thankful."

 

(Fundraiser organized by Matthew Beaudin, friend of the Hoppers. All funds raised will be used by the family to cover living and working expenses and rebuilding efforts.)