Support for Disabled Veteran's Post-Fire Recovery

Tuesday 9/3/24, my 67-year-old disabled mother’s house burned down in a 3-alarm fire in Westover, MD. She is a Veteran, she relies on a walker, and everything is gone. Even her medicine (including insulin), phone, and car keys. The structure is a total loss and needs to be taken the rest of the way down as soon as possible. I have received rough estimates of $20,000-25,000 for post-fire demolition and disposal. Unfortunately, there is no insurance to cover this. There are no savings to help with relocating or even to replace basic needs. Even the car was fire damaged (although that will hopefully be covered under her car insurance). All my mother has left are the clothes that were hanging on the line and 4 small antique pigs that somehow survived. I commend and thank EMS for working so hard and being so compassionate. Thankfully, my Mom and the person she had staying with her are ok, and the dogs are ok. Myself and her two sisters will be able to replace most of what is needed to live and start over. The Red Cross and VA are helping to replace her medication and her medical assistive devices. I am reaching out for help to raise money to have the structure safely taken down so no curious people get hurt trying to enter what is left of the unstable structure and to help with the upfront expenses of getting her moved into a first-floor apartment or assisted living near family.

Any help will be appreciated and will be handled by myself to ensure the funds are used only on the necessary things for site cleanup from the fire and the upfront expenses of moving her into a safe place.

If there are any leftover funds, donations will be made to each of the 3 fire departments that worked the fire, the Somerset County Humane Society, the Red Cross, and the local VA community support program. I will also set aside a portion to pay it forward for the next person that finds themselves in a total loss fire.

Update - 9/5/24 - I was unaware at the time of setting up this fund that there were 3 Good Samaritan heros.  I would personally like to thank Cody Bradshaw, Nathan Kersey, and Sarah Ady for helping in the earliest moments after the fire began.  WBOC has published a few articles detailing their involvement and is assisting to relay contact information so that we may personally thank them.  I wanted to take a moment to publicly thank them as well.