Starr and Sherid Adams Fire Recovery Fund

Starr and Sherid Adams suffered a huge and devastating loss early on December 8 when a fire started at their 325 Kennedy Road home. While they were able to get out, nothing else could be saved and their home of more than two decades burned to the ground.

This is a heartbreaking loss, made even more so by the coming holidays. We, their friends and Kennedy Road neighbors, hope to raise funds to assist them with immediate costs, particularly as they deal with ongoing medical treatment.

Starr and Sherid Adams are beloved members of the Kennedy Road community, the kind of people who are always willing to lend a hand or a wheelbarrow, who have often dropped off extra fruit and vegetables from their prolific garden. Starr recently retired as a long-time special education paraprofessional at Hampshire Regional High School, where she worked for over 20 years. In that role, she engaged some of the most hesitant learners and was an endless source of support to students in their greatest areas of challenge. Starr is also a professional musician and performs locally with her Celtic band Wild Thyme. A bandmate describes her as an avid gardener, spiritual and "deeply kind."

Sherid has been a professional sign maker for over 30 years, whose meticulous gold leaf work can be found welcoming visitors to Florence, Easthampton and South Hadley, as well as at Griffin's Pond, Mark's Meadow, Grove Hill Mansion, Sugar Maple Trailside Inn and Mr. Fish Seafood Market. As a local artist, he developed a unique compositional device he calls the "environmental palette."

Among the tremendous losses for the Adams are their irreplaceable collections of violins and artwork.

Money raised will assist with everything from clothing, hygiene products, medicine, and whatever else they may need. Any assistance you are able to provide is incredibly appreciated.