Support for H. Bernard Alex's Family After Fire

An Accidental Fire Displaced and Destroyed The Entire Second Floor of Our HOME! Good day! My name is H. Bernard Alex and my wife Jahnjae E. Alex and our family live in DeWitt, New York. Friday, June 7, 2024 around 12:50am in the morning the alarm and our nephew screaming “SMOKE, FIREEE” moved us into survival mode.

My son’s room was on fire! He was NOT IN THE ROOM Thank God, he was out of town visiting his girlfriend. When I opened our bedroom door, the thick acrid smoke was quickly filling the breathable space, I ran to my grandson’s room, startling from his sleep as I grabbed him and guided him downstairs. My wife was downstairs getting her 83 year old mother (from her room) who has dementia and rheumatoid arthritis, out of the house, she did this as gently and compassionately as possible, but we had to get out! My second oldest daughter and husband were moving into their home, so were staying with us for a month or two. He was at work, so I had to in the basement, get her out of the garage, pulling my car out for my mother in law and grandson and daughter (who was 5 months pregnant) so they could sit with our one year old Morkie, Zoe and my daughter has her two year old brother Smoky!

As I stood outside, on the phone with 911 unable to do ANYTHING as I hear sirens getting closer, I just SCREAMED OUT and CRIED!!! “GOD, HELP MY FAMILY!! WHAT AM I TO DO??!! I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!” Fire trucks, amazing neighbors, police, family and friends came quickly. Words can not explain the feeling of seeing FLAMES leaping out of the window of your son’s room raising like Olympic sprinters to the roof of your home. The entire second floor is destroyed, the water and smoke damage. We live in an “mature, but well built” home which means there was asbestos in something! And so, there are abatements, and removals, and so much more to be done. We are estimated to be displaced for at least 6 months or more. Thanks for whatever you do, because this experience can only be navigated with help, love, patience and trust. I believe that your support will not only be of fiscal help but will plant seeds of hope and inspiration. We Are Better Together!

Please pray with and for us and for my family. We have gone through so much since the fire, my daughter and son in law that were with us (and are still with us in the hotel until they move into their home) gave birth to their first born son, MY GRANDSON! But My grandson did not live! He died on the day he was born June 19, 2024. Jayden Caire Tyler. It has been HURT after HURT after HURT after HURT!!!! Please pray for them.

We have become closer than close and I strongly encourage each of you that helps in this campaign, to LOVE YOUR FAMILY with intentionality and authenticity. Let go of the past and LIVE! Your support are seeds that will be returned to you. This is our time now, but remember we all have an appointment with some form of public struggle. Do good while and when you can…because I am the PROOF some one will be good and kind to you. There are SO many things that will require MONEY.

Not just clothes and pots and pans, but the unexpected cost that are not all covered by insurance. The roof will need MORE than what is being estimated, the hard wood floors are gone, the providing motivational and inspirational support to my family and my mother in law with dementia is a great unexpected cost. I travel often for conferences and workshops (I am a Pastor and Community Organizer) and now with all of this, I MUST BE HOME! I need to support my wife with the contractors and my daughter and son in law. Your gift will help defray these expenses.

Peace and Blessings be upon you…