Alison America, Kewtown
My family and I were left devastated and with nothing but the clothing on our backs when a fire gutted our wendy house on Friday July 29.
The fire broke out while my 78-year-old mother and my children were in the main house.
When I arrived home, I was shattered, as we have lost every single possession, which my husband and I have worked so hard for over the years.
All our furniture, clothing, bedding, school uniforms, school bags with books went up in flames.
I still cannot believe this happened to us, but I have placed my faith in our Creator, who will provide for us during our time of need.
No one was harmed due to the grace of God.
I am so touched by the response that we as the America family has had to date. I cannot begin to express our gratitude. First and foremost I want to thank God for sparing my family and that no-one was seriously injured.
Thank you also to our neighbours for doing everything they could to lessen the damage and for trying to put out the fire.
The Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services for their swift response, the broader Kewtown community and an unknown gentleman who risked his life trying to help. He got cut so deep that he ended up in hospital with stitches.
Heartfelt thanks to the Mustafadin Foundation in Belgravia Road, for the food parcel and blankets. Disaster Management provided material for a three-by-three structure and a kit for the repair of our neighbour’s roof that was damaged by the fire too.
The City of Cape Town came to remove the rubble left after the blaze.
I am so grateful for all the assistance we were blessed with thus far.
A friend appealed for donations through a post on Facebook, from which we had rapid responses.
This ranged from monetary donations, to bedding, and a mattress. I also want to thank my employers, colleagues and former colleagues, friends and family who have offered to help in any way they can.
God bless each and everyone of you for your kind hearts.
My husband and I, our sons aged six and seven and my 17-year-old daughter, are currently occupying the floor space in my mom’s lounge. I appreciate the generosity of everyone who offered a helping hand, but to start from scratch feels like it is going to be a daunting task.
We just don’t know where to start and with the cost of living which is so high, it will take time for us to replace the basic necessities which we have lost.
We are counting our blessings as things could have been so much worse and we now have even more empathy for those less fortunate than us.
God gives me the strength to face each new day and I trust that all will be well soon.
Many thanks once again to all our unsung heroes.
