WE DID IT!: Bielanko Family Fire Emergency Fundraiser
HEY Y’ALL… We’ve heard from lots of folks who missed our one-day Fire Emergency Fundraiser for the Bielankos, and who would like to know how they can still help.
Here’s what Monica has to say about that…
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UPDATE – January 5, 2012
7:35 pm
People are GOOD.
They really, really are.
YOU really, really are
In just about 12 hours, we have raised approximately $10,000 (final tally will depend on a few outstanding pledges, but should come in within $500 of our 10K goal in one direction or another) for the Bielanko family to help them get back on their feet after they lost their home and much of what they own in yesterday’s fire.
Since launching this fundraising effort at 7am EST this morning, we’ve received many, many $5 gifts and two $1,000 gifts, and everything in between. Folks have emailed gift certificates for groceries, and they’ve let us know to expect a check in the mail. And lots of you helped to get the word out so that this could happen.
By the end of the day tomorrow, which is when we will distribute your gift funds to them, the Bielankos will have the money they need available to rent a place to live (and to earn a living, since they both work from home). They will be able to pay the deposit, and the first and last month’s rent so they can move in. They will be able to get their utilities turned on. They can replace the appliances that could not be salvaged so they can keep the milk cold. They will have money to replace the Christmas toys that burned. They will be able to buy clean sheets and towels and underwear and pajamas and socks.
And once the dust settles, and they are re-settled, if there is money left over, they plan to donate it to a local agency that helps other families who suffer fire losses.
People are kind, and generous and compassionate. And in addition to raising this emergency rebuilding fund for the Bielanko family together today, I think we generated an awful lot of good karma together as well.
Much love,
Katie and Betsy
PS: We’ve added the message “FUNDRAISING IS NOW CLOSED” to the sections of the blog post below that earlier gave info on exactly how/where to send your gift, but we left everything else in the post the same as it was during the fundraising appeal for the Bielanko Family.
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January 5, 2012 – 7:00 am
I know that many of y’all love Serge and Monica Bielanko, just as I do. They are truly lovely people, in addition to being two of the most talented bloggers in our online parenting community.
And we ARE a community, whether you’re a blogger yourself or a reader.
Serge, Monica, Violet and baby Henry
Yesterday, the Bielankos’ rural Pennsylvania home – a rental farmhouse into which they’ve poured time and love in recent months, since they made the brave leap to relocate from Utah – suffered a major house fire.
Serge had been working meticulously to refinish the floors in their new home, which they were SO excited to have found and to be able to afford.
While the cause of the blaze isn’t known yet, the fire appears to have started in or somewhere near Violet’s upstairs bedroom, where 2 year old Violet was playing alone at the time. Monica had the horrifying experience of having to rescue her baby girl from a room already engulfed in flames.
Thank God, no one was hurt. Serge, Monica, Violet and baby Henry – plus their two dogs, Max and Milo – all escaped, only to stand outside helplessly and see their beloved home burn as firefighters worked to save it.
While it will take days or more to determine the full extent of the loss of their belongings, we already know that the losses are extensive. Additionally, while they are able to stay with Serge’s mom for now, we know for certain that the family will have to relocate soon to a new rental home, and start completely over. And unfortunately – and to their eternal regret – they were not adequately covered by renters’ insurance. Their landlord is hoping that at some point they may be able to get back into his house once all the fire damage is repaired, but for right now, that’s just not happening.
The Bielankos' Home (with Violet on Porch) Before the Fire
Serge and Monica are both self employed. Serge is a musician and stay at home dad, working on his first book. Monica works harder than just about anyone I know to support her family as a freelance writer. They get by, but their budget had zero wiggle room for something so catastrophic.
That’s where we come in, y’all.
Starting today, many of us in the blogging community are launching an emergency fundraising appeal for the Bielanko family. They need funds to find and rent a new place, and to replace everything they already know they lost.
Later, after we know more clearly what stuff might be helpful – adn after they have a place to put it – donations of things like furniture, toys or clothing might be useful. But for now, like every working family faced with a situation like this, these folks are going to need actual money to rebuild their lives.
I literally had to BEG Serge and Monica to let people help them; they would NEVER have asked for any help themselves. But they finally agreed after I told them I would do it anyway 
But these are people who WILL pay it forward when the time comes, and I also know that if they end up with funds that are in excess of what they actually need to rebuild their life, they plan to donate it to their local Red Cross to help other families who suffer fire losses.
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Here’s our goal: let’s all work together to raise a total of $10,000 in an emergency fire fund for the Bielanko family.
My sister Betsy Allison Tant, whom many of you know as the Executive Director of Henry’s Fund, has agreed to serve as our neutral, third party “collector of funds,” and keeper of records for our Bielanko Family Fire Emergency Fundraiser.
Betsy will carefully tally and record all gifts that come in, and she will be the one to distribute the funds raised directly to Serge and Monica Bielanko.
Every day – multiple times throughout the day – I will be updating the running tally of how close we are to our $10,000 fundraising goal. Our fundraiser will end when we hit that $10,000 mark.
HERE’S HOW TO DONATE TO THE BIELANKO FAMILY FIRE EMERGENCY FUNDRAISER
There are several ways you can give.
1 – You could make a monetary gift of any amount (even $5 helps!) via my sister Betsy’s PayPal account <FUNDRAISING IS NOW CLOSED>. Please indicate that your gift is for the Bielanko Family Fire Fund. Betsy and I promise to be very careful stewards of every penny that anyone is kind enough to donate, and all funds will then be distributed directly to Serge and Monica. (Please be aware that this is not a tax deductible donation you will be making, but is instead a private gift to a specific family in need)
2 – If you would rather send a check, that’s great too. Please make it out to Serge and Monica Bielanko, and send it to this address: Bielanko Family Fire Fund/<FUNDRAISING IS NOW CLOSED> (Again, please be aware that this is not a tax deductible donation you will be making, but is instead a private gift to a specific family in need.)
3 – You could also send a gift certificate or card from either Target or Walmart (please use one of these two specific retailers because they are local to the Bielankos) to be used toward groceries, gas or clothing/shoes for the children. Please send gift certificates to <FUNDRAISING IS NOW CLOSED>
If you are unable to make a monetary gift to help, you can still play an important role by sending a link to this fundraising page to others, or posting it on your Facebook page or blog to spread the word to others who may want to give.
THANKS Y’ALL!
LET”S DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR SOME GOOD FOLKS IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.
READY….SET….GO!!!!
We at Fun Unleashed can donate a month pass, I know this will not help with financial problems but can bring a welcome smile back to a family. Please ask for Eric and bring any forms of ID.
God Bless.
Katie i just had to say thank you for setting this up, its helped us all to direct and combine our efforts and love and support toward helping them take the first step toward a bright future. thank you i think whats been done here in 24 hours is amazing.
Done and done. Oh my gosh, everyone’s worst nightmare. I’m just so glad they were all okay. We can replace furniture, not people.
Thanks so much to you and Betsy for setting this up. I have sent a small donation. The Bielankos seem like family even though I “know” them only through their blogs… I’m back in the Philly area after many years and was thrilled for them to have found such a great place in Lancaster County. Wishing for them to hold tight to one another, and to know one more reader is pulling for them!
Donation made in recognition of the joy Serge and Dave’s music has brought to my life. Prayers for the family.
I can’t believe it.I started reading Monica’s blog through your link and I really like her voice. Bielankos are a lovely family and fire is such a horrible thing I am glad they are unharmed. I live accross the pond but will try to find a way to contribute.
No offense, but if they don’t want you to raise money for them, then why are you doing it?
Also, this article doesn’t say anything about her daughter being upstairs – they were all downstairs. http://www.centredaily.com/2012/01/05/3041127/family-of-4-safe-after-walker.html
I hope people who do donate do it wisely and keep in mind the Bloggers Without Borders mess.
This is a horrible event and I wish the family all the best. Its just that whenever misguided attempts at charity go array, it makes all non-profits look bad.
Michelle –
I appreciate your concern, but let me clarify a couple of things.
First of all, folks who are in shock may decline help they don’t yet realize they need. That’s when the people who care about them step up to take care of things they’re too shaken to deal with.
Second of all, the family member quoted in the newspaper story published pretty much immediately after the fire yesterday had simply misunderstood what the circumstances had been. In fact, 2 year old Violet was upstairs in her room when the fire broke out.
Last, I’m not a nonprofit, but a regular person facilitating some other folks who want to help in getting emergency funds to some suddenly homeless good friends of mine.
-Katie Allison Granju
Then wouldn’t it be better to wait things out and see what the actual need is? Are people going to be less willing to help in a week when the actual damage and need can be determined?
I know you’re not a nonprofit – thats my point. If you look up the Bloggers Without Borders incident when a blogger’s husband died you’ll see what I’m refering too.
I’m sorry but this article states that they’re staying with their grandmother – they’re not homeless.
Katie, I’ve seen situations lik this before where something happens, people give money without knowing what they’re giving too and it never ends well. People just get burned and they are less likely to give charitably again.
And as someone who does working in fundraising for nonprofit that upsets me.
Michelle – I really do respect where you’re coming from with these concerns, but I **do** know what their immediate needs are. They need funds to rent a new place to live (deposit, utilities deposit, etc) and they need to replace much of what they owned ( they visited house with fire marshal today).
We can split hairs over whether a family of four with two dogs who were suddenly displaced by fire from their home (and home office) to which they cannot return qualifies as homeless, given that a family member has offered to put them up temporarily, but that’s really a red herring. Their house was so badly damaged by fire yesterday that they cannot go back in it to live. Maybe you prefer a term other than homeless, but surely you understand that these people with a toddler and an infant have been suddenly and traumatically displaced and have to locate and pay for a new place to live and to earn a living.
Last, unlike the controversy you reference, the Bielankos are not strangers to me, or to many of us who helped raise funds today. They are friends, and Monica is my coworker for the past year at online publication Babble.com
If you aren’t comfortable donating in an appeal like this, I **totally** get that and respect it. But friends and neighbors and coworkers have been taking up collections for families who have house fires for generations, and that’s all we’ve done here today. It’s a good thing, not a sketchy or bad one.
Respectfully, Katie
Hi Katie,
Thank you for your polite reply. It feels rare sometimes to come in with a different viewpoint and not be attacked.
I personally feel that its ridiculous that parents with two kids don’t have an emergancy fund for something like this. Nor for them to have renters insurance or working smoke dectors (so it appears, anyways).
That said, I’m not saying they should be punished by not having their friends and family help out. I guess I’m just put off by the timing. And also the lack of through information. I feel that if this was an attempt to raise money via friends and coworkers, then background about them wouldn’t be needed. Nor a blog post – a mass email would of worked. Heck, if it was even for their readers, the background of who they are wouldn’t be needed. I guess I’m trying to say that this post came across as an attempt to go viral ie attract donations from people who don’t know them.
I respect that you set a limit and closed as soon as you reached but its unclear how you reached this number. I think this gets even more confusing since they are freelance renters, rather than structured homeowners. With two little kids, they tech don’t even need a house right away – an apartment would work and have all the bigger items they would need. Again, if they have the money to move into a house, then go ahead. But these are wants, not needs. And I’m not sure how it leads up to $10,000.
I’m not trying to sound heartless – I wouldn’t want to be in their position right now and I wish them all the luck! I just can’t help thinking that $10,000 to a nonprofit with resources, such as the Red Cross, would of been able to help many homeless families with children rather than just one.
I guess where at a crossroads – I respect that you’re trying to help your friend. I just find issues with the path of assistance.
Their words and music have made my life richer for many years. I am glad to pay it back in some small measure. A check is on the way.
Thanks for taking this on, Katie. Together, we can help make this less of a nightmare for them.
Awful. We were able to send a small monetary contribution, but would love to also send you some of our products. It may not mean much, but a little beauty ritual during hard times helps. Please let us know if that is ok. You can email me with address to: melissa {at} bijabody.com.
Our prayers are with you.
xo, fellow bloggers
As a big fan of TheGirlWho, a small donation has been sent. So thankful they’re all ok.
Thank you, Katie and Betsy, for your time, effort and love. I’ve been reading Monica’s blog ever since she began writing as The Girl Who… off to donate!
Done! My thoughts are with the sweet Bielanko family; their writing has entertained and inspired me for a long time.
Thank you Katie and Betsy for setting this up.
I made a small donation, one that I hope, added with everyone elses small donations will enable the Bielanko’s to have a sense of peace that everything will be ok. thanks for organizing this. What a horrible start to a new year.
Is there an address where I can ship gift cards? I’d love to help w/ gas or groceries.
I am sending a check which will go in the mail tomorrow. Thank you so much for organizing it and passing it on!
i mailed a check ($50) and gift card (target $25) today. wasn’t going to post anything, but thought you may want to include in the tally…praying for them and many thanks to you guys. there really are good people out there
Thank you SO much Tracie! We will absolutely make sure that your incredibly generous gifts get to Serge and Monica just as soon as they arrive. xoxo – Katie
I’d like to send a check to this address tomorrow if that’s still ok. sorry if that’s a dumb question… I’m a big fan of hers and just learned about this now.
Is the full $10K raised? Do they need more? Serge and Dave’s music is some of the only great rock ‘n’ roll out there and Monica’s words about love are like music. Please let them know that we’re all here for them.
Thank you all so much. I’m Monica’s dad and I appreciate all of your support for my kids and grandkids! Thanks a million times! Love to all, Craig Butler
i missed it? i still want to send something,please contact me?
thanks!
Mailed you a Target card for $25 this afternoon but just now have time to post.
Oh, I can’t believe it. My family is visiting from out of state and I have been offline for a couple of days. I can’t believe I missed this. Katie, please let us know if there are more opportunities to donate something.
So thankful for the blogging community. Monica is a gem and her family is adorable. I hate to hear such tragedy, but efforts like this make it a wee bit better.
Hey everyone – thank you SO much for wanting to continue to offer help
Our public, collective fundraising has ended, but I would encourage you to consider making a donation to your local Red Cross or other disaster relief agency in the name of Henry and Violet Bielanko if you still want to do something meaningful. Wouldn’t it be great if *another* 10k were raised for the Red Cross in appreciation and love for the Bielanko family?
xoxo – Katie
Katie, I’m Monica’s father. I would like to thank you for your efforts with this emergency fund! I know how much it means to Serge and Monica and how much they appreciate it! The money you have raised will be used wisely and will go towards their kids needs as well as replacement of all the little things that are needed for their family. It’s hard to imagine loosing ALL your things like this and how quickly it all adds up. Thank you! Sincerely, Craig Butler
Everyone who mailed a check or gift card today before we closed the fundraising appeal this evening, THANK YOU! All of your incredibly kind gifts will be lovingly handed over to the very grateful Bielankos as soon as they are received here in Knoxville
Katie – will Betsy have time to email a return to let us know that she received our funds/gift cards? I’m sure she was swamped with the crazy, generous donations ($10k in 12 hours is amazing!) but I’d like to make sure the target gift card I emailed went through to her.
Absolutely. Betsy and I hope to get acknowledgements for emailed gift cards out tonight or in the morning. THANK YOU!
Had never heard of this family, but am reading now their story of how they met and I wish I had been able to help. Am so glad that they are ok and that the money was raised. Good on ya, Katie!
Please……
Opps …. what I was gonna say: I didn’t read about the fire or fund raiser until today. I’d really like to contribute in some monetary fashion to help them out ….gift card, check, PayPal. I know I can donate to the American Red Cross but that doesn’t seem right to me knowing that the Blienko family is in need right now. Heck Monica entertains me daily with her musings on being a wife and mother — its the least I can do. Please…… can I have an address or PayPal account where I can send something? And Katie — you did good.
I assure you that suddenly having to double up with a family member who likely does not really have space for you and never signed up for or prepared for having 4 extra people (plus 2 dogs) living with you indefinitely, qualifies as homeless, in the eyes of professionals who work with homeless people. It’s not quite the same as living under a bridge in a cardboard box, but no-one wants to see anyone end up in that position before anyone helps.
Plus, while I’m sure this isn’t going to apply in this case, I work daily with people who WERE staying in this precarious position and suddenly something happens – there’s a fight over who owns what in the refrigerator, etc., or it turns out that the number of people in the house is too high according to the landlord or housing authority’s regulations, and THEN people have to find somewhere else, often that same day, and frequently can’t find a space in a homeless shelter. THAT is homelessness – when you are someone else’s whim away from having to sleep under a bridge, or having to spend all day on the phone calling homeless shelters because someone wants you gone by the end of the month/week/day. (Not that it’s always a whim – sometimes there is a much better reason – but anyway, the end result is the same).
And while someone else feels it is ‘ridiculous’ that a family doesn’t have a cushion for this sort of thing, I assure you that a) most families don’t and many simply can’t, and b) Monica mentioned having one a while back – not this much admittedly, but enough to pay a month’s rent and security deposit. That was a long time ago, so it may even have increased since then. Or, it their cushion may just have been used for urgent medical needs or something – you don’t know.
This fund is a) to help things be a bit more comfortable than that rather bleak scenario suggests (having enough to cover a month’s rent on a new place and not much else) and b) to give to a good cause with what is left over. Is that so bad?
For all the other critic above knows, they may be planning to move into an apartment next. I remember Monica saying the rent on this place was the most reasonable available. Maybe there actually aren’t many apartment buildings around that area (i.e. near to the specific family members they moved to be closer to).
Finally, as for needs vs. wants – sometimes people want to give to others just for the sheer wish to give. True, there are more ‘immediately’ needy causes out there, but these people want to give to this one. Just like if your friend had just had a baby or a bereavement or whatever, you would be taking them, personally, a casserole or a gift certificate for takeout or whatever, not donating it to your local homeless shelter who might theoretically need it more. They want to give to these particular wants-not-needs. People can’t always solve homelessness with their spare cash, but sometimes they want to do something measurable with what they have.
Laura – thank you SO MUCH for saying so clearly and politely what so many of us have tried to say, but we’re unable to express as articulately as you just did. Thank you. Thank you – Katie
We (www.1800specs.com) pledged on our facebook to donate $2 for every pair of eyeglasses we sold from 1/5/12-1/12/12. We now see the fundraiser has happily met its goal. We will be contributing to the Red Cross as per post #25 above. We are very happy to “see” that the Bielanko family has a head start to get back on their feet, and to “see” the wonderful giving nature of this community. It is inspiring
Adam
I’m late finding out about this, but I’d like to contribute. Is there a way to do this?
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