Help the Lakey Family Recover From Losing Their Home

When Donna and Scott moved to the Asheville area nearly a decade ago, they immediately found the home of their dreams in the beautiful Town of Weaverville. Not only were they within mere seconds of family, with two of their kids, Meagan and Keith, plus their partners, living within mere minutes of their house, but they had finally found a community that they truly loved. Between handing out buckets full of candy to neighborhood kids every Halloween and starting their own (unexpected) garden in the backyard when a random corn kernel turned into a cornfield overnight to hosting tons of family and friends as they visited Asheville to see a concert, go to Biltmore, or just catch up, and the regular pizza nights the family had gathered around the backyard picnic table, this house and town were filled with countless incredible memories.

That all came crashing down on the morning of Wednesday, March 12, just before 9 am, as their primary bedroom went up in flames and soon engulfed nearly half of the house. Not only did they lose all of their clothes in the fire itself, but nearly all belongings throughout the house are now unsalvageable due to the excessive amount of smoke damage the house took on in the process. Take it from the Weaverville Fire Marshall himself: they were beyond fortunate to make it out alive and well themselves, although their singed hair and clothes are reminders of the true devastation that this fire has caused them.

Fortunately, Donna, Scott, and their newest family member, their dog, Sadie, all made it out alive and okay without any major burns or medical issues. They were taken to Mission Hospital in Asheville by ambulance shortly after the fire was contained and have been tested and monitored since. The entire family, including all four of their children, Meagan, Jordan, Keith, and Garrett, are thanking the stars tonight that no lives were lost from this absolutely horrendous freak accident. Life is precious and this is nothing short of a reminder of that.

Unfortunately, everything else in the house is a total loss and the family is in need of assistance in whatever ways we can find it. All clothes, furniture, electronics, food, appliances, jewelry, pet items, precious keepsakes, work essentials, family heirlooms, birthday cards from years gone by, and so much more are simply gone, meaning the Lakey family is starting from scratch. Losing everything is something none of us ever imagined we'd face in this lifetime and we are asking for help, in whatever form that comes in.

We are asking for help with raising funds to get the Lakey family back on their feet as soon as possible, primarily with securing a new place to live, furnishing their new home, and purchasing clothes after the total loss. Donna, Scott, and Sadie are three of the kindest and most loving people in the world who give back whenever and however they can, so we are asking for help here to return that kindness to them. Any and all donations are so greatly appreciated while the family still sorts through the rubble in the coming days.