This morning the house across the street from us burned down (all people and pets are safe). We have lived in our home less than one year and don't know the family, other than a friendly wave. I need help with ideas on what, as a neighbor, I can do for these people in this difficult time. Thank you.
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I'm sure they'd be grateful for a basket of all the things your family finds delicious on Christmas Day. You know, baked goods, etc...
Is there anything they can salvage? Maybe you could offer a place to store things. When the yellow tape comes down, you might offer to help with the cleanup,if there is anything standing. Christmas presents, especially for the children, would give a warm feeling of caring. They will need everything from clothes, to bedding, to linens and dishes. Pet food and beds. See if you can gather donations from the neighbors. Nice things. Don't let people use this as a chance to dump. Keep track of who gave or did what so the people you're helping can thank them.
I'd offer to let their pets stay with me until they find someplace to stay that allows pets.Linda
how about giving them some food and some clothes if they lost everything thing it is close to x mas the kids a toy that should get them back in the spirit for the holiday.Debbie From Kentucky
A few years ago, our house burnt down 2 days after Christmas. I would have appreciated it if a neighbor had opened their house to us to use their bathroom during the day when we were waiting at the house for insurance agents, going thru items, etc. Yes we could have asked, but it's nicer if offered.
Also, although used clothes are nice and are very welcome in the beginning, it was extra special to be able to go out and buy new clothes. When you don't have anything, it's nice to get something new.
I don't agree with Linda there. Allowing the pets to
stay and have them just find a place to stay
somewhere else seems kind of rude to me. Houses
get burned down all the time, and surely they have
relatives to stay with. That's the problem with neighbors, they don't just mind their own business.
"I don't agree with Linda there. Allowing the pets to stay and have them just find a place to stay somewhere else seems kind of rude to me. Houses get burned down all the time, and surely they have relatives to stay with. That's the problem with neighbors, they don't just mind their own business."
This doesn't make much sense... watching their pets could be extremely helpful. That probably opens up more opporutnities for them to stay places because people will put up people over people AND pets. For example, you can't take your pets to an apartment, you can't take your pets to a hotel, there are any number of reasons why your relatives or friends couldn't take your pets.
And assuming they have family is silly too... a lot of people live in areas where they have no family. Either they just don't have family OR they had to relocate for work.
I give a lot of credit to this person for being a good neighbor.
"Houses burn down all the time"
Yikes! I don't want to move to your neighborhood if that happens all the time. Most people will live their entire life and never have their house burn down. I don't even know anyone who has had their house burn down.
I don't agree with Linda there. Allowing the pets to
stay and have them just find a place to stay
somewhere else seems kind of rude to me. Houses
get burned down all the time, and surely they have
relatives to stay with. That's the problem with neighbors, they don't just mind their own business.
I'm glad you aren't *my* neighbor or the person behind me when someone rams their car into me on the road. You might feel different if it were YOU!
MANY kudos to you Jodie! Definitely one of the most important things is to take care of the kids (if kids are involved). I think a Christmas pressie for (each of) the kid(s) and maybe a gift certificate to McDonalds or something. Most of all, just BEING there in their time of need and being a friend will mean more to them than ANYTHING. Ask my husband. He's lost his things to TWO housefires in the past. You might also try some of your surrounding businesses for donations, your neighbors, some of the churches. Grocery stores may be willing to donate a food basket or some canned goods. After all- tis the season for giving. God Bless you and your quest Jodie! Saying a little prayer for you and your neighbors!
Hi,
Lots of great suggestions here. One thing that hasn't been mentioned is a place to use the phone or just sit when they are becoming overwhelmed.
Just ask them if there is anything that you can do to help and if they think of anything to please ask. Sometimes just letting them know that you are willing is important, even if they never ask. Sometimes what they will need is something very simple that you wouldn't think of.
You could also bring over some hot coffee, juice or a snack when you see them there. Little comforts mean a lot at times like this.
Susan from ThriftyFun
Dear Jodie, I've always lived in the Southland, and back when I was a kid my family and most everyone I knew was dirt poor. This was an old cotton-mill town and very few people made much money. But back then we had sort of a tradition called "a poundin'" and it was usually sponsored by a local church. The way it worked was, such as in the case of a house burning down, kids from the church would come and "pound" on the door and say, "We're makin' up a poundin' for Mister and Mrs. Jones. Thier house burnt down and they lost everything they had.
YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS HEARD OF A POUNDIN' BUT NEVER KNEW WHAT IT WAS. WHAT A WONDERFUL THING TO DO FOR PEOPLE, YES IT WAS A LOT DIFFERENT BACK THEN, WASN'T IT??? MUCH BETTER, FOR ONE THING, BECAUSE PEOPLE DID NOT MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS, THEY CARED ENOUGH TO HELP THEIR FELLOW MAN!! AND THAT'S WHAT WE ALL ARE SUPPOSED TO DO, ISN'T IT?? THAT'S THE WAY I WAS RAISED, I'M 51 NOW, AND TODAY AIN'T MY DAY TO CHANGE!!! I'VE RAISED MY CHILDREN TO HELP PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY AND/OR HANDICAPPED. AND IF I'M 90, AND I SEE ONE OF MINE DOING ANY DIFFERENT, I'LL SMACK EM UP SIDE THE HEAD IN A NY MINUTE AND THEY KNOW IT!!ALSO MAYBE IF PEOPLE DIDN'T MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS NOW,THERE WOULDN'T BE SO MANY DEAD WOMEN OUT THERE THAT GETS BEAT ON ALL THE TIME AND NO ONE RESPONDED, COS IT WASN'T THEIR BUSINESS!!
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