Friends starting over...

Some friends of ours home burned to the ground this weekend. They got out ok, and saved their photos and a few family pieces of furniture. They feel so fortunate.

They have insurance and good jobs, so they will be fine. We are having a community shower for them at their church on Friday and I'm trying to think of some things that they can really use. I'm getting them a nice set of kitchen knives and another friens is getting a big Tupperware basket together....

What else might not be thought of? Let me hear ideas if you needed to start completely over...what do you think you need? These are 'empty nesters' with no grandkids yet, so there's no need for a huge amount of things for a big family.

Hi Mel, That is very sad news. You are a good friend and it sounds like you are part of a very nice church group.

We went to a wedding on Saturday and the couple was registered at Target. So we went and printed out the list and many of the things had already been purchased but there was a big chunk of stuff no one bought. That is what we bought them. They had asked for a large outdoor garbage can, kitchen can, bathroom can, broom and dustpan, mop, laundry basket, plunger, pant hangers, laundry sorter bin, etc. I figure all that went a lot further than one big item and was probably the most useful. Besides, it was sort of fun to walk into the reception dragging that big garbage can full of stuff. LOL It gave people something to look at besides the six kids. ;)

I wish a quick recovery for your friends.

Cookbooks, baking supplies, a laundry hamper with sheets and towels, PLANTS!!!

mg

Saran wrap, alum foil, paper towels , napkins, dish soap. Coffee and tea and things needed to make them. Anything you use on a daily basis is a good gift. Its like packing to move in the sense that you might end up without a cup of coffee because everything is packed!

Best wishes to them for a speedy return to normal life.
ginni

Everything to make coffee and Iced tea. and some mugs and glasses to drink it in.
Sidney

A new bible with a message of hope underlined. Any pictures of their house you may have in your photos. Try to remember anything they had in the previous home (old) that you could get at a antique shop or other.

Some nice pillows and blankets or quilt that has that "home" feeling. Possibly a radio or something to add music to their life and for new/information until they get a TV. And perhaps, if they lost clothing.....a nice comfortable cozy bathrobe and slippers!

Debbie

Household cleaners, laundry soaps, a nice coffee mix - something out fo the ordinary, so they can focus on good java, and not on the misfortune.
A "welcome home" sign for the front door ...

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions..keep 'em coming.

This shower is going to be pretty big...a large community, with many friends. Their church is one of the smaller country churches in the area, but very active and vital. They are going to get lots of wonderful gifts. The fire was electrical and started in the kitchen, so that area was a total loss as far as saving anything. That's the best area in my opinion if there can be a 'best' place for a house fire to start. Not many items that can't be easily replaced in the kitchen.

Everyone around here has heard this though, and I'm sure that they will get tons of kitchen stuff. I'm trying to color outside the lines a bit and come up with something that no one will think of...they'll get multiple crock pots, coffee makers, mixers, pots and pans...and another friend is stocking the pantry...sugar, salt, flour,coffee, tea, spices, aluminum foil, saran wrap, baggies...etc, so that idea is already taken.

I'm still going to do the knives...and will get a good cookbook now...(thanks!), but hope ya'll will continue to post whatever you think of... I want to go outside the kitchen area...I think that will be covered quite well by the community.

Gift card for Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. Gift card for Office Depot or the like for new office items - computer, etc? If you know their reading preferences - some books, or a gift card for a book store to help rebuild their library. A nice wall clock.

I'm still thinking so may be back with more. Just sit for a few minutes and think through an ordinary day - what things come to mind for you that you use all the time, enjoy, or need that they may have lost. The list could be endless. From the basics like a vaccuum cleaner to the "little pleasures" like a book of poetry.
ginni

How terrible it must be albeit they are safe, all your personal things carefully collected, life's little comforts, very sad.

I guess even if it was the kitchen that most others things will have been water or smoke damaged. My thoughts go to the most simple things you might need in the bathroom, toilet paper, shower gel, hand wash, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand and bath towels, toilet cleaners, shower cleaners, shampoo, all place in a dirty-clothes basket. It's like having to move country and all those little things you have to get, such a big job!

The bathroom stuff is a great idea...the house actually burned to the ground...they had 20 minutes to grab pictures and a few pieces of family furniture. The man said he was in the bedroom when aerosol cans started popping underneath the sink in the kitchen...and he decided right there that they had saved everything that needed to be saved.

They have their wedding photos, kids and family photos and video tapes. The antique bedroom suite that belonged to her grandparents (and the clothes that were in the drawers)...and that's it. They felt that they were fortunate to be able to get the bedroom suite out, but it was at the other end of the house...near the door, so he felt like he at least had to try to get that. Neighbors helped him. Family photos were stored in the cedar chest.

I'm hearing from friends, and they are going to get a wonderful shower. Insurance is being helpful too. They are moving into his Dad's old house (he passed last year) and friends are doing a bit of re-model with new carpet and appliances. They were going to fix it up for rental, but they will be the first tenants.

They're going to be fine, and are in good spirits.

melody, how about Christmas ornaments? I'm only assuming they celebrate but if they do, wouldn't it be nice if everyone brought at least one special ornament and created a "community collection". That sure would bring good memories come the holidays.

how about a day or two of paying for the motel if they are staying in one.

What about a single usecamera and scrapbook to start a new book from the shower? Everyone can sign the scrap book and put the pictures in for them, wishing them well at their new start. It will remind them when they are having a bad day how much they are loved.

And yes, what about plants either for outside or hanging plants? Did they have pets that would have needs? Your doing such a wonderful thing.

Debbie

Mel, it may be too late to tweak it, but how making the party into a "pounding"? (I don't know if you've ever heard of this, but we did one as a housewarming party for some church friends once.) The premise is you bring a pound of something - a pound of nails, a pound of peanutbutter, a pound of....whatever you can think of that they might need.

Obviously, you can also do more than a pound of something, but it can be pretty fun when you start looking for items that weigh a pound (I think I did a pound of hot cocoa mix and a pound of marshmallows. ;o)

Musn't forget the iron and ironing board!

A portable radio. Scissors, nail clippers, hand cream. Tea towels. Pasta, rice, tins and jars of easy food, like baked beans, tinned tomatoes, tinned fruits, long life milk and cream, custard powder, gravy, cooking oil. paring knife. A grocery parcel like potatoes, carrots, onions. Bottles of drinks, spring water, fruit juice cartons. Spreads like jams, butter, honey. I know kitchen area but just in case these are forgotten!

Hair brushes, combs, skin creams, deodorants.

Laundry supplies..... baskets, fabric softener possibly a downy ball, laundry soap, Oxyclean, stain remover, stuff like that?

I am racking my brain to think of stuff, we had a fire when I was small, and I remember my mom being happier over little things than the big stuff.

Janis

Pens, writing paper, envelopes, sticky tape, drawing pins, dog clips, paper clips, note pads. Table lamp for bedroom.Light bulbs. Houseplant + food. Bottle opener, can opener. Wine cork remover. Comfy throwover blanket for living room if cold. Hot water flask.

Mel, what a wonderful thing for you and your friends to do. Most of the things I was thinking of have already been suggested. I was thinking of postage stamps.

My parents live in Florida in the winter and in NJ in the summer. This past fall their neighbor bought bread, milk, eggs etc. So when they got back to their house my parents didn't have to run to the grocery store. My parents were thrilled because they were so tired from their trip. Since friends are working on the house, maybe someone could stock the fridge.

Her favorite perfume, his favorite cologne... for her a gift cert to her preferred makeup counter.... gift certs for massage if you have that available locally... something to help them relax.

Answering machine, Cordless phone.... a little less personal, but needed items just the same.

Well, I got the knives, 4 or 5 nice hard bound cookbooks and some cat things..(they have 2 kitties)...THEN, I headed over to a couple of Christmas shops that are year round businesses and loaded up.

The woman loves Christmas and had a wonderful collection of things...I know that I would be really sad if I lost all of mine.

I then called around and suggested that everyone bring a Christmas ornament with them...new or used..(sort of per Terry's suggestion)

I'll report back tomorrow on what they got...shower is tonight.

They had an awsome shower! Lots of folks showed up with all kinds of things...they were overwhelmed.

The kitchen is now fully stocked...right down to green beans, mac and cheese and ritz crackers. They got all the major appliances and a few not so major. Plenty of cookware and kitchen towels too...and a really neat kitty cat cookie jar!

New bedding and pillows for the bedroom. Lots of towels and washcloths. Garbage cans, cleaning supplies, laundry baskets, mops and brooms...and a Swiffer. Four or five clocks for all rooms.

Throw pillows and afgans for the living room..a neat decorative trunk filled with candles, potpourri and knick knacks.

Lots of folks brought Christmas...a great number shared from their own collections.

More Lowes and Wal-mart gift cards than I could count.

We are not a rich community, but these folks are so loved and admired that the response was huge. The volunteers got the other house finished yesterday, so they can move all of their things right into it.

As a funny...but actually not....thing. They got a new washer and dryer and hooked it up yesterday morning so the woman could wash things that they just tossed out the door. The brand new washer caught fire! Nothing harmed, but sparks flew at some point...talk about a bad feeling!

Needless to say, new washer will be delivered today.

What a beautiful gift they have in their friends.

Gosh talk about a horror movie! They must be scared to turn anything on now!

Even though they are well looked after, the shock might just set in late, so keep a close eye on them?

Melody,

It sounds like your friends were well taken care of! Doesn't it make you feel wonderful to know that this still happens these days? I'm glad cookbooks were a good idea, I know I would be heartbroken to lose my collection.

I did wonder tho, how many smoke alarms and fire extinguishers they received, lol. When we moved here, we got 11 smoke detectors, rofl!! I have 5 of them installed, and 6 for back ups!

;~)

mg

Melody, the shower sounds so wonderful. The washer - too scary.

MG..yup...big pile of smoke detectors and fire extingushers...and carbon monoxide detectors.

Sounds like they could use some surge protectors for all the electrical things. And good ones.

Blessings to all who blessed them.

Sandy ^8^

Well I'm a day late and dollar short...but I was thinking if you were going to buy them a cookbook, perhaps you could get the community to donate handwritten copies of their treasured recipes. Still could I guess?

I included 3 local cookbooks with the hard bound ones...2 from area churches and 1 from the the high school Booster Club...lots of local recipes...with the names of the cooks.

They're in their new home and doing great...it will be a long road back to 'normal' but they have a good head start.