One of my co-workers had an apartment fire yesterday.

[Bee]

She didn't lose anything but there is smoke damage. She told me she (and her child) are aftraid to go back and live in the same place, even after repairs are done. DH would like us to give her something of significant financial amount. I know she wouldn't accept cash. He was thinking store gift cards- to buy new clothes, linens, whatever (I don't care if she uses it for Christmas gifts to save money to put toward a new apartment, whatever, it takes to help). If you were in her shoes would you accept such a gift?

[mommytobees]

I was in her shoes (well, we lost everything) and I did accept gifts. It is HARD to lose everything like that. It is even harder to have to move with this circumstances.

 

If you question that she'll accept, then get the gift cards and put them in a Christmas card. Give it to her on the sly.

 

Kris

[5kidsforME]

If you are worried she won't accept you could do it anonymously. You could put in her mailbox and say something like, just a little gift to help you through this trying time.

[alpidarkomama]

I agree that doing it anonymously would likely make her feel more comfortable in accepting the gift. What a rough time!

[Tree House Academy]

Anonymous is the way to go, I think. If you don't want to do that, you could offer to put a downpayment on a new apartment of her choice or something. Of offer to pay the bill where she is staying now.

[ConnieB]

We had a friend who lost her job and was very worried about not being able to pay the rent. We knew she'd never accept money from us, so I went to the apartment manager and paid her rent for her. I asked him to keep my name secret and he agreed. She did speak of the wonder of realizing that someone had done this for her, but if she knew it was me, she never let on. It gave her a great need without humilating her or making her feel less whenever she was around us in the future. Random Act of Kindness.

 

God Bless you for helping.