What would make a good 'burn out' bag for neighbors??

barnyardgal · #1 02/26/13, 09:53 AM

My neighbors lost their home to fire yesterday & lost everything-they are staying with their daughter who is also a neighbor-

my question is what can/could i get them to help?? One neighbor already gave them toothbrushes/toilet paper etc.etc...since they are staying the daughter they don't need furniture or anything like that & they also have insurance to cover-but just want to get/give them something & do not know what-
I would give them money but how much would be enough?I do not have that much money to 'give' but want to do 'something'...

Any help/thoughts would be appreciated~~!

P.S. I know some on here had /went through having a fire & what could you use most at first??

Thanks~

Common Tator · #2 02/26/13, 10:11 AM

Glad they have their daughter to stay with. They have a roof over their heads and are being fed. It seems their immediate needs will be clothing, computers if they lost theirs in the fire. Tools, work gloves, someone to watch their kids if they have any while they work on the new house, medications.

As the new house is being built,they will need someone to keep an eye on it while the builders aren't there. Theft from construction sites is pretty high. You could offer to point a game cam at their place, or offerto let them put their own game cam up on your property. And of course, you and your family can look diligently at the place yourselves.

Actually, I'm thinking good work gloves and buckets or boxes will be of great help to them right now, because they will want to go through the place and try to recover whatever there is there that wasn't too badly damaged. They will want to try to find photographs and other special mementos.

You can offer to make meals for them on days when they are at the burned house. Let them use your bathroom.

It is very thoughtful to think of them and extend a helping hand in their time of need. You are a good neighbor!

whiterock · #3 02/26/13, 10:22 AM

basics are clothes and toiletries, and those are expensive, underwear socks, shoes, shirts pants and all the things used in the bath room add up in a hurry. A place to sit and rest, a hot cup of coffee or a cold glass of tea, little things mean a lot. it is impossible to tell you the full answer. someone gave me nail clippers, i needed them at the time. razor, deodorant, a quiet place to crash. i'm rambling, but that is what is going on in those folks minds too.
Ed

suzyhomemaker09 · #4 02/26/13, 10:51 AM

A bathroom type set of things would be very helpful...soap, towels,shampoo toothbrush etc....
Also laundry sets are helpful...basket, laundry detergent/fabric softener...
Those are things that were gifted to us after we were in that same situation.

kasilofhome · #5 02/26/13, 11:05 AM

Have you ever been in their home
Do you have photos of the inside and out side of the home
Do you have any photos of their family members or family events.

If you have been in the home sit down and start visualizing the place room by room. List every and all items in the rooms.
Give them copies of photos and your newly made notebook. Listen to them when you invite them to your home to a feed after working cleaning up the site and you will learn what they really need. Items needed might be out of your range but bring the items they need to this site for ideas from us as to how to solve and help someone --many mind together solve many of life's issues.

Ann-NWIowa · #6 02/26/13, 12:45 PM

Offer to assist them in reconstruction of necessary papers. This would include their birth certificates, marriage license, military discharge papers, insurance policies, mortgage documents, etc. You could request the forms required to get these documents. Or find out where/how to replace papers. Some forms to request duplicate documents can be found online. If they give you the name of the company for their life insurance, you could call or write requesting the forms to be sent to them. Provide them with a book of stamps for sending the forms.

You could contact friends and family in the community and ask for copies of pictures and make a new scrapbook for them.

Invite them for a meal.

Don't be in a hurry to give them "stuff" because it is a hassle to deal with "stuff" until they have their own place again.

katheh · #7 02/26/13, 12:50 PM

My mom had a housefire 18 months ago-

I would say the most important thing is to make sure they have some clothes and shoes to wear (my mom literally ran out with no shoes and therefore had no shoes), and next was a computer to use (they did all their insurance details on Excel spreadsheets, etc), and a cell phone.

emdeengee · #8 02/26/13, 12:56 PM

It could be difficult to give cash so perhaps you could prepare some meals for them. Or bake cakes, pies, cookies and breads. Even though they are with their daughter it will be nice for them to come home to a hot meal or desserts that they don't have to prepare after a day of hard work rebuilding their lives.

Michgranny · #9 02/26/13, 07:45 PM

I had a house fire. Lost everything, had to stay with relatives. My first thought is toys for any children! NEW socks and underwear would be second, nobody donates that.

Makeup for the lady, hammer and screwdriver for the man.

Michgranny · #10 02/26/13, 07:57 PM

Another thought, paper, envelopes, stamps etc.

Helena · #11 02/26/13, 08:00 PM

If a group of women sew have them do up a quick quilt. Also, I would do the make up and personal products for the ladies, and the men and children. Even though they are with family..it would help with the extra cost too with the family members. I would send over extra foods and perhaps a gift certificates too. If they have pets..don't forget them too. Even small amounts would be appreciated.

Ohio dreamer · #12 02/26/13, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ann-NWIowa

Offer to assist them in reconstruction of necessary papers. This would include their birth certificates, marriage license, military discharge papers, insurance policies, mortgage documents, etc. You could request the forms required to get these documents. Or find out where/how to replace papers. Some forms to request duplicate documents can be found online. If they give you the name of the company for their life insurance, you could call or write requesting the forms to be sent to them. Provide them with a book of stamps for sending the forms.

You could contact friends and family in the community and ask for copies of pictures and make a new scrapbook for them.
...

Those are neat ideas! I never would have thought of that.

Now I'm thinking the next time we go to a friends I should take picture of the kids playing.

emdeengee · #13 02/26/13, 10:59 PM

When our friends lost everything to a fire - beautiful home! but everyone was safe - I, (and my family and other friends), went through all of our photos and videos and found any pictures that we had that included members of this family in them and had them duplicated. We could not tell the story of their lives as well as the photos they lost had done but we were able to put together some of it - birthday parties, first day of school, Halloween, Christmas and picnics etc.

soulsurvivor · #14 02/27/13, 03:54 AM

DH and I used to attend many community fundraising events where the proceeds raised went to help families that had lost a home to fire or there was a great need for help with medical expenses, etc. Those were/are the big two reasons to have these fundraisers/benefits. Some of the places used for these events are the Masonic Hall, the community building at the fairgrounds, local church basements or community halls, one was a local barn dance hosted by a family that had a large barn suitable for that.

The premise is to give the funds raised after expenses over to the family in need for immediate use. Sometimes it's a dance where the band/dj are donating their services. One we attended was a chili supper/contest where you paid an admission to have your best chili recipe judged and there was a meal of chili and apple pie along with that.

Another was a silent auction held in a church basement following a special prayer service for the family. Church/community members donated items for the auction and everyone walked around sipping on coffee and cookies while writing bids for the items on the tables. At the end of the hour time was called and the highest bid paid and took the item home. The money collected was given in the form of a check to a church family that had excessive medical bills due to cancer treatments.

I know this is more than you asked for but perhaps there are people in the community where you live that would be interested in organizing and hosting a fundraiser for this family. I know you have to be careful these days to follow all the laws associated with this type of event, but it is a possible way to provide a great deal of immediate help for families facing a crisis.

irondale · #15 02/27/13, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emdeengee

It could be difficult to give cash so perhaps you could prepare some meals for them. Or bake cakes, pies, cookies and breads. Even though they are with their daughter it will be nice for them to come home to a hot meal or desserts that they don't have to prepare after a day of hard work rebuilding their lives.

I second this.

Classof66 · #16 02/27/13, 09:28 AM

We had a fire about 30 years ago. We did not lose everything, but it was still pretty bad. One of the things that was helpful was having brown and white trash bags, white for the things that were to be salvaged and brown for the stuff to discard. This prevented losing something that may be wanted later on.

Gift certificates for pizza, etc will be helpful during rebuilding operations.

No time is a good time for a fire, ours was during hot weather, and was horrible, but cold weather would be terrible too. I did my own wallpapering when it was almost complete, and some painting. Long days. Pizza and snacks were very welcome.

This time of year, just keeping the snow cleared from their driveway might be a life saver. people will need to come and go even if its a total loss, and access would be a great help.

WE stayed with my dad, it was a roof over our heads and all, but it was not always pleasant for either of us.

CarolT · #17 02/27/13, 10:05 AM

Unless you absolutely know, or are going to ask, don't give toiletries. I haven't worn makeup in close to 20 years and I am allergic to many soaps and body washes, shampoos, etc. Itching and having a rash isn't good when you don't have added stresses and a person wouldn't want to seem ungrateful and decline an offer of help. I would go with gift cards. Then the family can determine where the greatest need is and purchase accordingly. JMO

ronbre · #18 02/27/13, 10:10 AM

when we lost our home 10 years ago, there were some things that were most appreciated.

one neighbor brought us bread, mayo, mustard, coldcuts and cheese..so we could have sandwiches..

something to drink is also nice

usually what you REALLY need is underwear, sox, shoes etc..and the best way to do that is to give a gift card for Walmart so you can get whatever you need..

also you could save those sample size things that you get and have them set aside as well as those toothpastes and toothbrushes and floss that you get from dentists, etc..shower gel, soap, towels, washcloths..

and if your friend was a farmer/gardener and has to have their home RAZED to be rebuilt, give them a hand in relocating flowers, perennials, etc that they want to save..and maye pet food?? or animal food or relocation

Peggy · #19 02/27/13, 10:23 AM

gift cards. wait a week or two then see what else they need. people forget after a few weeks that people in crisis still need things.

am1too · #20 02/27/13, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulsurvivor

DH and I used to attend many community fundraising events where the proceeds raised went to help families that had lost a home to fire or there was a great need for help with medical expenses, etc. Those were/are the big two reasons to have these fundraisers/benefits. Some of the places used for these events are the Masonic Hall, the community building at the fairgrounds, local church basements or community halls, one was a local barn dance hosted by a family that had a large barn suitable for that.

The premise is to give the funds raised after expenses over to the family in need for immediate use. Sometimes it's a dance where the band/dj are donating their services. One we attended was a chili supper/contest where you paid an admission to have your best chili recipe judged and there was a meal of chili and apple pie along with that.

Another was a silent auction held in a church basement following a special prayer service for the family. Church/community members donated items for the auction and everyone walked around sipping on coffee and cookies while writing bids for the items on the tables. At the end of the hour time was called and the highest bid paid and took the item home. The money collected was given in the form of a check to a church family that had excessive medical bills due to cancer treatments.

I know this is more than you asked for but perhaps there are people in the community where you live that would be interested in organizing and hosting a fundraiser for this family. I know you have to be careful these days to follow all the laws associated with this type of event, but it is a possible way to provide a great deal of immediate help for families facing a crisis.

Nothing works like money for immediate needs. It is a great way to get community together even tho the initial reason is sad.