Ransom Relief Fund

Hello, my name is Cassandra my sister and I are starting this relief fund for my mom (Joanna Ransom) and her boyfriend Kevin.

Starting on Friday the 22nd of July, the Oak fire began and proliferated through Mariposa county,

burning 17,241 acres (6,977 hectares). The fire is still ongoing, being fought by 3,000 firefighters.

As of this afternoon, we were notified my mom had lost her home and everything on the property. During the evacuation, they had little time to get out. They lost all of their household possessions. The fire completely burned everything on their property to the ground, they are left with very little at this time. Many people in the community know my mom who was born in Mariposa and Kevin, her boyfriend of 20 years.

The history of the Jerseydale property in my family is one of powerful sentiment.

My grandparents Cliff and Loweta Ransom had purchased the property over 40 years ago and built it from the ground up. They wanted my mom to have access to a special education program only available at Woodland Elementary.

My grandfather hand-milled the wood with his Alaskan sawmill and built his wood shop; he made all the wood for his porch, decks and projects. My grandmother spent years planting flowers, trees, creating ponds and places for her children and grandchildren to come and explore. Needless to say this property is the heart of many years of love and dedication.

Joanna became the caretaker of the Jerseydale property as she had watched the trees grow tall during her lifetime. So this is not just material loss but the loss of childhood memories and closeness with her father who has since passed of cancer. Many cousins and grandchildren are devastated at the news of this loss, myself included. Some of the best years of my life were spent in Jerseydale with my family.

Many will feel the loss of the Jerseydale family homestead.

Both Joanna and Kevin are not only the Mariposa community members but members of many communities. My mom has always used her skills as a photographer for the benefit of Mariposa and its residents. From high school portraits, rodeos, mariposa fair, chamber car cruises, cancer

survivor/awareness volunteering at local events like butterfly festival and other events, parades and so much more. They both are avid collectors of tools to pursue their passions and utilize those tools to help others.

My goal for this fundraiser is to give back to my mom and help support them after this devastating fire. They lost so much, and with the house being so old, insurance was unavailable to them, they have incalculable losses. From basic amenities to welders, photography equipment, family photos, clothing,

memories.. everything. Please help me build a new life for my mom and Kevin as they have helped build lives and dreams for many others, just as my grandparents did for the community before them.