Thomas Fire Special Needs Families
Donation protected
UPDATED POST:
Thank you to everyone who contributed to help our affected families. We raised over $2000 and our founders matched that. As of 12/21/17 we have concluded our campaign at the request of the families who are very grateful for the support and they wish everyone a wonderful holiday.
ORIGINAL POST:
Please consider contributing to help our special needs families who were affected by the Thomas fire in Ventura County. Our organization provides in-home respite care to families who have children and adults with developmental disabilities funded by Tri-Counties Regional Center.
**Our founders will personally be matching all donations up to $5000**
Three of our special families lost their homes in the #ThomasFire and four more of our families were evacuated and displaced. The photo we are using in this post is of one of our families from a few years ago who gave us permission to use their image - this particular family is not one of the families in need.
Family #1 - Elderly mother and daughter evacuated quickly from their home in Ventura which was destroyed in the Thomas fire. Daughter has significant developmental disabilities and uses a wheelchair. They had a very difficult time finding an accessible hotel room and ended up 30 miles away and are hoping to re-locate closer soon. They left with only the clothes on their backs and are in the process of getting medications refilled and basic needs met. They need help to purchase clothing, food, hygiene items, gas, comfort items, and other necessities.
Family #2 - Family with three adult daughters lost their home. Daughter with special needs has a severe intellectual disability and does not communicate verbally. She enjoys DS games and lost all of them in the fire. The family left with nothing but the clothes on their back. They are currently staying at the father's office until they can find a suitable location for all of them. Change is hard for their daughter who is looking forward to returning to her day program to regain some normalcy in her schedule and see friends.
Family #3 - Single mom with adult son lost their specially-modified home in the fire. They had to immediately evacuate, first hearing of the need when they saw a fireman yelling on the street for everyone to leave. Son has multiple and significant disabilities with intense behavioral challenges. They could only find a suitable hotel 40 miles away and are working with TCRC to re-locate closer to home.
Within 24 hours of this campaign, we started to pass along the contributions. One of the teens with special needs whom our organization supports stopped by our office with his younger sibling and they both donated their entire piggy banks and had us all in tears :-)
As we obtain other accounts from our families in need we will update this description. Please share and encourage others to donate. All collected funds will only be given to the affected families mentioned in this post to help them rebuild their lives.
Thank you to all of our Respite Caregivers who have come forward to provide emergency care for families in shelters and hotels - your willingness to lend immediate support means more than you will ever know!
Thank you!
Tim & Sharon Francis
Founders
Channel Islands Social Services
www.IslandSocialServices.org
4000 Calle Tecate, Suite 200
Camarillo, CA 93012
#ThomasFire #ThomasFires #VenturaFire
Thank you to everyone who contributed to help our affected families. We raised over $2000 and our founders matched that. As of 12/21/17 we have concluded our campaign at the request of the families who are very grateful for the support and they wish everyone a wonderful holiday.
ORIGINAL POST:
Please consider contributing to help our special needs families who were affected by the Thomas fire in Ventura County. Our organization provides in-home respite care to families who have children and adults with developmental disabilities funded by Tri-Counties Regional Center.
**Our founders will personally be matching all donations up to $5000**
Three of our special families lost their homes in the #ThomasFire and four more of our families were evacuated and displaced. The photo we are using in this post is of one of our families from a few years ago who gave us permission to use their image - this particular family is not one of the families in need.
Family #1 - Elderly mother and daughter evacuated quickly from their home in Ventura which was destroyed in the Thomas fire. Daughter has significant developmental disabilities and uses a wheelchair. They had a very difficult time finding an accessible hotel room and ended up 30 miles away and are hoping to re-locate closer soon. They left with only the clothes on their backs and are in the process of getting medications refilled and basic needs met. They need help to purchase clothing, food, hygiene items, gas, comfort items, and other necessities.
Family #2 - Family with three adult daughters lost their home. Daughter with special needs has a severe intellectual disability and does not communicate verbally. She enjoys DS games and lost all of them in the fire. The family left with nothing but the clothes on their back. They are currently staying at the father's office until they can find a suitable location for all of them. Change is hard for their daughter who is looking forward to returning to her day program to regain some normalcy in her schedule and see friends.
Family #3 - Single mom with adult son lost their specially-modified home in the fire. They had to immediately evacuate, first hearing of the need when they saw a fireman yelling on the street for everyone to leave. Son has multiple and significant disabilities with intense behavioral challenges. They could only find a suitable hotel 40 miles away and are working with TCRC to re-locate closer to home.
Within 24 hours of this campaign, we started to pass along the contributions. One of the teens with special needs whom our organization supports stopped by our office with his younger sibling and they both donated their entire piggy banks and had us all in tears :-)
As we obtain other accounts from our families in need we will update this description. Please share and encourage others to donate. All collected funds will only be given to the affected families mentioned in this post to help them rebuild their lives.
Thank you to all of our Respite Caregivers who have come forward to provide emergency care for families in shelters and hotels - your willingness to lend immediate support means more than you will ever know!
Thank you!
Tim & Sharon Francis
Founders
Channel Islands Social Services
www.IslandSocialServices.org
4000 Calle Tecate, Suite 200
Camarillo, CA 93012
#ThomasFire #ThomasFires #VenturaFire
Organizer
Sharon M Francis
Organizer
Ventura, CA