Fire Roars Through Family Home And How You Can Help Them!

A few weeks ago, I read the most devastating Facebook status update about the little girl I used to babysit. See many years ago, I was a preteen in need of money and I picked up babysitting as a way to make that money. It was an easy gig for me. I’d show up at the house, play lots of fun games, act like a kid and the parents paid me for it. But the families I babysat for became family to me. Of course, it helped that most of my babysitting gigs were for my mom’s friends’ kids. But two groups of sisters became my mainstay even as I moved on to other paying jobs. One group was a duo that lived across the street and their divorced parents couldn’t agree on anything except me as their preferred babysitter. The other group was a trio and the one mentioned in the devastating status update was the youngest of the trio.

Monica was my practice child, my shadow, my buddy and was inevitably found by my side whenever our families got together. I vividly remember sitting in their house out in the middle of nowhere picking out coordinating outfits and styling their hair for their annual portraits later that afternoon. And boy did I do a fantastic job—just look at the adorableness in those photos.

So what was the devastating status update you ask? Monica, Ramon—her fiancé—and their two young daughters lost everything when their mobile home caught fire. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the fire as Ramon was the only one home when he smelled smoke and called for help. But sadly, their family of four, Ramon’s grandmother and a family of six staying with them lost everything. Everyone is staying with other family members in the area but they will have to rebuild their life from scratch. Beds, clothes, school supplies, and the most important—at least to the six children involved—toys.

I’ve dug through our closets and have come up with nothing to help the families. We dropped off about six boxes filled with toys and books to the goodwill last month so I don’t even have anything in our donation boxes to send for the kids. I’m not close enough to help with the clean up. I’m not too far to be an ear to listen but I wanted to do more for them so I thought maybe I could get the word out to all my wonderful readers and see if someone can help. Maybe you live in the Tucson, Arizona area and have some items to donate. Perhaps you work with an organization that helps families in crisis. Maybe you could spare a few dollars? Worst case scenario, you can keep the family in your thoughts and share the story to get the word out. You just might be the person who can get this story in the right person’s hands to make a huge difference to these families.

Ways To Help The Family

Donations to help Monica Bard, Ramon Martinez and Mary and can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank, account 6341422951, under the name Bard-Martinez Fire Recovery. Sahuarita Primary and Intermediate Schools are collecting items for four children who attend the schools. Those wishing to donate can drop items off at SPS, 350 W. Sahuarita Road, Building 40. Take Sahuarita Road to Rancho Sahuarita Road north. Turn right at the first light (at Fry’s), and immediate right to the school’s front office.

They are looking for the following items: (to be updated as needs change)

• Clothes
  • Girls clothing sizes 6/9 months, 4,5,6
  • Boys clothing sizes 7-8 and 10
  • Women’s pants sizes 14/16, 18
  • Women’s tops size 2X
  • Women’s scrubs
  • Men’s shirts size 3X
  • Men’s pants 40 (waist) x 34 (length)
• Footwear
  • Girls shoes sizes 3, 9, 11-12, 13
  • Boys shoes sizes 2 and 3
  • Women’s shoes sizes 8/9
• Baby Items
  • Diapers size 3
  • Parent’s Choice Advantage Formula
  • Sensitive baby wipes
• School Supplies
  • Girls Backpacks – Age 5, 6, and 7
  • Boys Backpacks – Age 9 and 10
  • Pencils, Paper, Crayons
  • And probably everything else in the school supply section
• Toys
  • Girls age 9 months, 5, 6 and 7
  • Boys age 9 and 10