The fire happened on a thursday. That night Ryan and I agreed without any hesitation that he needed to drive out there on saturday with as many donations as we could take. We knew all of our dear friends had nothing except the clothes on their backs and their cars. They were sleeping in the homes of "host families" from the stake, on couches, with so many people needing to shop for basics that the stores were running out of the necessities. There was SO MUCH need and we knew we couldn't sit still. So that evening we texted all of our friends in the ward and asked them for donations. We planned to fill a trailer and Ryan's truck, and drive it out to them on saturday. The next morning my friend help me put this post on FB to help get more interest and support in our plan.
By 9am I had hundreds of dental supplies dropped off on my doorstep from dentists in our ward. By 3pm I had a couple thousand dollars in my venmo account! And by the next morning I had gathered about $4,000 plus boxes and bags full of gently-used bedding, clothing and shoes.
I was able to spend the whole day (friday) shopping at walmart and costco.
During that day a sweet lady from my ward here came over to deliver some items. I hadn't met her officially yet but knew who she was. She has been through some difficult things in her life and had a lot of wisdom as she spoke with me for a few minutes. I cried to her as I told her how heart-wrenching it was for me to send Ryan to Chico without going myself. But that day (the 9th) was Grace's birthday AND her birthday party was planned for the following day. I was feeling so awful and so torn... wanting to make the weekend a wonderful birthday weekend for Grace, but also wanting SO badly to be in Chico and being there for my Paradise friends. I felt like I was between a rock and a hard place. This sweet friend stood in my driveway, telling me words that I know the Spirit whispered to her to share with me at that moment in time. I needed for her to tell me that my daughter would forgive me, that my heart was telling me where I was truly needed, and that birthday parties come and go but aren't nearly as important as reaching out to these friends who had lost so much. I knew she was right. I felt it seep into my bones and give me the strength to move forward with the change of plans. My friend Alisha had already so kindly offered to take my kids for the weekend, so I called her and arranged for her to take my boys friday night through sunday night.
Ryan, Grace and I left the next morning with our packed trailer around 3am. We had a good 12ish hours ahead of us and wanted to get there as soon as we could. On the way, I was texting friends in Paradise to tell them we were coming and ask if there was anything else we could bring for them. Lots of them were saying they needed pillows... I knew we had only bought about 14 the day before but EVERYONE needed pillows, for everyone in their families. That's a lot of pillows! So around 8am when were about to pass through Winnemucca, we decided we would spend our own money at walmart and get as many pillows as we could. We literally bought them all out. We had already spent several hundred of our own money, plus were going to pay a lot in gas for the trip, but we didn't care at that point. We knew it was right. As we got back on the freeway, I received a notification that my dear old friend Andrea Morrow Rose had donated $600 to our cause! I was so blown away. She must have been listening to the Holy Ghost because that was literally the money we needed right when we needed it. It was a miracle.
On our way to Chico we stopped in Truckee to see the Chatfields and the Parrots. They were staying in their family cabin to stay out of the smoke and away from the craziness in Chico. It was wonderful, SO wonderful to see them and hug them. Just to hear their stories, tell them how sorry we are, share some items with them that I knew they needed (socks, pillows, jackets) and let them know they're not alone. A friend from our Twin Falls ward had given me a guitar that their family didn't use anymore and asked if I knew someone special who really needed a guitar. I knew exactly who needed it!: McKell Chatfield, in the middle in a blue sweatshirt. It was such a sweet moment giving her the guitar. I was beyond thankful and humbled that we could see them before heading to Chico.
Chico was SO smokey. So much worse than I expected. You couldn't be there long without choking on the air and rubbing your eyes. But OH how good it felt to be there and hug so many people from our old ward!!! I can't begin to describe it.
Grace's old primary teacher, Erin Burt.
Becky Kambourian
Alison Woods, who lives in Chico, but has been taking care of SO many and housing several families.
They had a very well-run operation going already and it was only 48 hours after Paradise evacuated. I was so impressed!
Grace was able to be part of (and the catalyst for) a missionary opportunity. As we drove into town I texted the moms of Grace's 2 best friends from Ponderosa and told them where we'd be. I said they could come gather what items they needed but also we would just love to see them and let the kids play for a bit! We were so thrilled when these families actually showed up! Both the Sargents and the Cornwells came, plus Grace's 2nd grade teacher... none are members of our church. They didn't come intending on taking anything home, but I personally walked them through each room with bags in my hands and filled the bags with things for them. It was a heart-wrenching but humbling experience for me that I will never forget. I took Tiffany Cornwell into the toiletries room and she stood there with a look of complete bewilderment on her face. She said "No thanks, this isn't for us" and "But I don't know what we need". I assured her that it was ALL here for THEM. We came for them, with their faces in mind. It was such an honor to be able to fill bags for their family with dental items, pillowcases, blankets, brushes, shampoos, and new pillows. I will never forget it. And Grace was such a sweet friend and played with her friends while they were there, hoping to take their mind off of things for a bit. It was a special day for all of us.
This is what it looked like the afternoon of saturday the 10th, but by sunday afternoon it was easily twice this amount! Donations were coming from all over and were coming in quickly. There were almost round-the-clock deliveries from neighboring stakes and family donations and businesses. Since that weekend though, big companies and stores have donated thousands of dollars of NEW things to fire victims: Vans shoes, Jos A Bank and Mens Wearhouse suits, new scriptures for members of our church, musical instruments, christmas angle-tree sign-ups, newly made quilts from quilting groups, new furniture, 200 twin mattresses plus more, and so much more that I can't even write it all. There was also an angel of a man who lives in Southern California and felt he needed to give of what he had. So he gave $1,000 checks to every single of the Paradise High students and the faculty members. No strings attached. Just wanted to do something that would make an impact, and give these kids some freedom that they lost. It was over $1million! It just incredible. So many acts of love and kindness to complete strangers.
I brought one of the boxes from our garage that had Grace's old clothes in it. As I helped sort through clothes and organize into sizes I found her old things. I hope they helped someone in need.
Becky and Ashley. Oh it did my heart so much good to see them!
Grace helping Gretchen Harrison (my dear friend and the Bishop's wife).
Sometimes all we can do when someone is hurting is just LISTEN. Just let them talk and share, and just BE there with them.
The Harrisons hold a special place in our hearts.
We parked our truck and trailer near our motel next to all the "big boys". They are true heroes.
Oh these ladies. These powerhouse women, but who were hurting sooo deeply. And I was hurting along with them. We were taking this picture and one jokingly said "Do we have to smile? I don't feel like smiling." But they did anyway. Look how incredible they are.
Grace with her sewing teacher and a previous primary teacher, Sister Gridley.
THIS friend. Sara Hanchett. She is a big part of my life and I couldn't WAIT to hug her.
Kim and Kerri. I love them!!
On sunday morning we spent a couple of hours helping organize the donations. Grace helped by making little quiet bags and treat bags for kids coming to the sacrament meeting happening that day.
The 3 of us did not bring church clothes because... well I knew nobody had their own church clothes at that point so I didn't want to look like I had all these things that others didn't. Also, I knew it didn't matter. I knew nobody would think anything of it and others there would be in whatever clothes they were able to find in the last 48 hours and it didn't matter one single bit. I figured we would be running all around and would want good shoes on anyway, and that ended up being spot on.
Watching the young men bless and pass the sacrament in hoodies, shorts, athletic shoes, jeans, and whatever they had was truly an experience to remember. Nobody cared what anyone looked liked. We all just cared that we were TOGETHER, that none of our numbers had lost their lives, and that we were able to worship the Savior and partake of the sacrament.
Jess Croshaw told me I better bring chocolate for a dear friend Susie Warren. So I did. :)
While we were at the stake center that day, a large plume of smoke left the area and it looked a bit clearer finally.
My friend Ashley said to me "The only dress I grabbed as I left my house was the dress you gave me." :) She is such a sweetheart. She is also a surrogate for a couple who haven't been able to have their own children. Ashley is an angel on this earth! It was an honor to be able to serve her for a change.
One of my YW and our favorite babysitter, Macy Mattern.
I have learned more from these two women than I can say. Kim Reeves was my institute teacher in Paradise for several months and taught me what charity and kindness really looks like. April Carter literally brought us into her "extended family" and always made us feel like her own children. It breaks my heart into tiny pieces to see them experiencing such loss and devastation. But they retain their unshakeable faith in Christ and they continue to teach me by example.
The Laufer's daughter Lexi wrote us this sweet thank you note.
A little while after we got home from Chico, I happened across this post from a lady who knows Ryan. She took a pic of us unloading. When I saw how many "likes" and "shares" there were, my mouth dropped open. I am blown away that that many people know and love Ryan. Of course they do, though! He really is amazing. He's superman.
I'm so thankful for a man by my side who was 100% on board with this "ministering" trip and helped make it happen. It has changed me. It has changed how I feel about others, how I see the world, how I see myself and the impact I can make (whether on a large scale or small). It has changed the way I view relationships... We don't say "I love you" nearly often enough! Even to friends. We need to share and connect and be vulnerable. We are going to miss out on SO much connection and love if we wait for tragedies like this stupid fire to happen. When we appreciate someone, TELL them. When someone we love is hurting, DO something. BE there for them.
