Mzjavert
Silver Member
- #1
Thread Owner
**Exactly one week ago I arrived at my burned out apartment building after spending the night in the ER. The clothes on my back and a worn pair of shoes that the ER gave me were all that I owned at that moment. The building had already been boarded up. Everyone was gone. I didn't even know if I'd be able to eventually get into my apartment.
Not thinking straight, I honestly thought I'd make it into work, granted about 12 hours late. So I headed into town to get a new phone, steel toed shoes for work, baby wipes to clean up with, and one set of clothes from Goodwill. I then returned to the apartment building. At this point I was fully ready to be homeless short term and knew a few places I could sleep overnight.
The maintenance man and his crew was at the house. He lent me a flashlight and let me go up. My effeciency was mostly intact, mostly smoke and water damage. The hallway and other two apartments on the second floor looked like something out of Danate's Inferno. The one and only thing I wanted to save were my important life documents. Thanks to where I'd stored them, they survived. I left and another tenant had returned. They told me that the Red Cross had helped everyone. Two hours later the Red Cross had given me money for short term housing.
Thank you Red Cross.
That covered a week in a motel plus a third of a second week. They are on my forever charity list.
Friends and co-workers have been amazing. One friend in particular has bought me food and helped me with other resources. Anothet lady at work is getting me more clothing from her church. Another person gave me a very generous gift card, countless others have given me money and other gifts.
Truly each and everyone is a gift from heaven.
Right now my I have food, clothing, and shelter. I now have the resources to get a new effeciency apartment.
In the past I have given generously to those in need. But until I suffered this tragedy, I never understood how much such help meant.
To pay it forward the first thing I will do is donate all my clad and eye finds to charity.
Second when I get shoes BOGO, the free pair goes to my local ER. My used shoes also go to thw ER as they will only be needed short term.
Third never again be resentful when someone asks for a loan I know they will never repay. I'll give them the money and consider it a gift.
Everytime I am downtown and see a donation box to support the shelters, whatever is in my pockets goes in the box.
One final way I will pay it forward is by donating books and picture puzzles to the behavior health center of the local hospital.
Right now my biggest priority is finding an effeciency. But today I need to do about a half of dozen minor errands, half related to the fire. Lol it took me days to think about getting my mail stopped.
I have been writing this mostly on the bus as I have been heading out to my errands. I just made my first pay it forward donation to someone in a tougher situation than I am in. She's been living in the park next to the bus station for a couple of weeks.
Another thing I want to do is write two brochures. One for what to do before a tragedy strikes. The second is dealing with a tragedy after it strikes.
Sorry if I rambled on a bit. I really just wanted to share that greatest treasures are ones you don't know that you have. Treasure those in your life. And when needed, take a mental health break with swing therapy.
Not thinking straight, I honestly thought I'd make it into work, granted about 12 hours late. So I headed into town to get a new phone, steel toed shoes for work, baby wipes to clean up with, and one set of clothes from Goodwill. I then returned to the apartment building. At this point I was fully ready to be homeless short term and knew a few places I could sleep overnight.
The maintenance man and his crew was at the house. He lent me a flashlight and let me go up. My effeciency was mostly intact, mostly smoke and water damage. The hallway and other two apartments on the second floor looked like something out of Danate's Inferno. The one and only thing I wanted to save were my important life documents. Thanks to where I'd stored them, they survived. I left and another tenant had returned. They told me that the Red Cross had helped everyone. Two hours later the Red Cross had given me money for short term housing.
Thank you Red Cross.
That covered a week in a motel plus a third of a second week. They are on my forever charity list.
Friends and co-workers have been amazing. One friend in particular has bought me food and helped me with other resources. Anothet lady at work is getting me more clothing from her church. Another person gave me a very generous gift card, countless others have given me money and other gifts.
Truly each and everyone is a gift from heaven.
Right now my I have food, clothing, and shelter. I now have the resources to get a new effeciency apartment.
In the past I have given generously to those in need. But until I suffered this tragedy, I never understood how much such help meant.
To pay it forward the first thing I will do is donate all my clad and eye finds to charity.
Second when I get shoes BOGO, the free pair goes to my local ER. My used shoes also go to thw ER as they will only be needed short term.
Third never again be resentful when someone asks for a loan I know they will never repay. I'll give them the money and consider it a gift.
Everytime I am downtown and see a donation box to support the shelters, whatever is in my pockets goes in the box.
One final way I will pay it forward is by donating books and picture puzzles to the behavior health center of the local hospital.
Right now my biggest priority is finding an effeciency. But today I need to do about a half of dozen minor errands, half related to the fire. Lol it took me days to think about getting my mail stopped.
I have been writing this mostly on the bus as I have been heading out to my errands. I just made my first pay it forward donation to someone in a tougher situation than I am in. She's been living in the park next to the bus station for a couple of weeks.
Another thing I want to do is write two brochures. One for what to do before a tragedy strikes. The second is dealing with a tragedy after it strikes.
Sorry if I rambled on a bit. I really just wanted to share that greatest treasures are ones you don't know that you have. Treasure those in your life. And when needed, take a mental health break with swing therapy.
I believe every day is a blessing and hope that I would do as you did during events like those. Glad things are working out. 
