The Freda Family after their home caught fire

Hi, my name is Lindsay, the niece of Andy and Janet Freda. My family and I decided to start a fundraiser for the Freda family after a tragic fire happened in their home early Saturday morning.

Early Saturday morning on March 11th, 2023

the family of Andy, Janet, and Aaron Freda lost their home and practically everything in it to a fire. They basically got out with the clothes on their backs, their family dog Maggie and Andy’s oxygen tank. We thank the Lord they are all ok. We have decided to start this fundraiser because they are in great need at this time.

They were hesitant to let us do this fundraiser for them because they don’t want anyone to suffer financially in order to help them, but we told them to let God handle that and allow people who are led to bless them, do it. It can be hard to accept help from others when you are someone who has given and would always prefer to give to others rather than receive help.

This latest hardship has been devastating as they have been going through health and financial struggles for quite some time, even before the fire.

For those of you that don't know them very well, we wanted to tell you a few things about them.

Andy worked in law enforcement for 15 years. His last position was as a Sergeant with NC Capitol Police. After resigning so he would have more time to spend with his family, he worked with the Raleigh News and Observer for 6 years as assistant operations manager in the vehicle maintenance department where in 2001 he suffered a severe back injury which has left him disabled for over 20 years now.

In the spring of 2021, he contracted covid. This lead to him being on a ventilator for 45 days while in Critical Care for 2 months and eventually in Rehab for a month as he learned to walk again. Due to the damage his lungs endured during this time, Andy continues to have medical issues, including the need for full-time time oxygen to assist his breathing.

Many people in our community know Janet from her years of working at local pharmacies. She worked at McPhail’s Pharmacy in Erwin for 10 years before joining the family owned pharmacy, Dunn Discount Drug, with her brother Ronnie Myers and her father Edgar Myers.

After 20 years, she joined with her sister and brother in law, Lin and Sue Byrd, to start a new family pharmacy, Myers Discount Pharmacy in Lillington.

Since the closing of Myers Discount Pharmacy 5 years later, Janet has been employed with Family Medical Supply of Dunn, Carlie C’s Pharmacy of Erwin and currently works for Kustom Right Accounting in Dunn where she has been for the last 3 years.

Janet has always had the sweetest and most giving spirit. So many people in the community know and love her and know she would give the shirt off of her back to anyone in need, even if it was the only shirt she owned. She always makes everyone feel loved and cared for. Countless people made an effort to shop and have their medicines at the pharmacies over the years, solely because she worked there and they knew she would make sure they were taken care of properly.

Janet has endured some health issues of her own the past few years.

She had kidney surgery last year and, although recovering, is still experiencing some issues that have hindered her work schedule and availability due to taking time off for medical appointments for herself as well as Andy's continued recovery.

Their son, Aaron, lives with them and has worked since he was 16 but was recently laid off two months ago due to restructuring but still has always helped and continues to help all he can.

This family has been through so many hardships in the last several years that they have barely been able to make ends meet.

Now, their house has burned, and they are left with basicslly nothing.

Janet and Andy are wonderful and caring people, and all they have been saying since this happened is how blessed they are that the Lord protected them, and they all got out safely.

They are so humbled by how many people have already reached out, asking how to help them. We thought this fundraiser would be a great way to get that process started!

If you feel led and would like to donate anything to this family to help them get back on their feet, we promise you that they will be eternally grateful.

May God bless the Freda family and all who can donate and/or pray for this family.