(Updated…) URGENT HELP NEEDED FOR FIRE VICTIMS: Young family with infant and sick baby forced into the streets… [VIDEO INTERVIEW]
UPDATE: Kaviena Washington created a Go Fund Me page to raise money to help her family through this tough time… HN will be creating a page dedicated to all the displaced families (I’m told there are about 10…). There will be links to ways people can donate and help out. In the meantime, here’s a link to Kaviena’s page… please visit and help out if you can, every little bit counts 🙂 CLICK HERE.
UPDATE ON DISPLACED FIRE VICTIMS: Very good news so far today, people have reached out! One person even anonymously called Comfort Inn and donated a couple more nights stay… which is what these families really need right now, as they begin to piece their lives back together.
HN has been talking with other families displaced by this fire. My idea is that if each displaced family sets up their own “Go Fund Me” page, HN can publish those pages so they get the exposure they deserve.
So far, this story has reached over 31,000 people in the region! And that’s mostly within in last 12 hours… I expect that number to double… My goal is to spread this story even further because people are interested and want to help out.
Here’s the plan so far:
1. Have each family set up their own “Go Fund Me” campaign page with funding goals of about $2500 for the time being. I’m told there are approximately 10 families that will be displaced long term by the fire. Most of those families have young children.
2. Hyannis News will publish those accounts to get them more traffic and exposure. HN will also pass those pages along to other media resources in the region.
3. Right now, these families mostly need emergency funds. Money, gift card, or hotel room donations… People have been generously giving clothing and physical goods, which will all be eventually needed… but please remember, for the time being these families are in hotel rooms and have no way to store all the stuff. Hopefully someone can set up some type of central storage for these families. Cromwell Court has been doing their part, but I’m told they have run out of space… My idea is that if someone reading this can donate or set up some type of large central storage to be used as a clearing house for the physical goods, that would be awesome. Please contact me at rjbastille@yahoo.com with your storage ideas.
Update: Jennifer Long has come forward and has set up a drop off/ storage location for clothing, diapers, and other supplies. Donated items can be dropped off at the store location “Suited for Work” at 64 Enterprise Road, Hyannis. Drop off hours will be Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30am through 5pm. Store phone: 508-775-3373… or you may contact Jennifer Long directly at 508-360-2032…
4. HN would like to speak with each family, please contact HN at rjbastille@yahoo.com if you are one of the families displaced by the fire.
Note: Some families may need help setting up their own personal “Go Fund Me” campaign page. Those interested in helping with GFM page setup, please stay tuned for updates…
Here is an example of a Go Fund Me page that a friend set up for Sarah Dean, a displaced young mother with a four-year-old child and a one-year-old baby… CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT HER PAGE.
Judging on the response thus far, it is definitely feasible to raise enough to make a huge difference in the lives of these young families. Emergency funds will provide them the means necessary to get back on their feet.
Hyannis News has the best readers around and it’s truly amazing how many are willing to help these truly innocent victims!!! It’s very impressive and uplifting… and an indication of the outstanding character of our community. 　Thank you for providing hope for these families.
Initial story:
HYANNIS – A mom with a three week old infant, one-year-old baby, fiancĂ©, and recently relocated mother and brother, is suddenly left without a roof over her head.
Saturday evening’s Cromwell Court apartment fire has left her and her family homeless with nothing more than the clothing on their backs.
The Red Cross was able to provide some emergency clothing, supplies, and temporary hotel shelter, but now those resources are depleted and this young family is left with no place to go.
Kaviena Washington and her babies sat in the hotel lobby of the Comfort Inn and went on camera to explain their dire situation, and make a plea for emergency assistance. [Please watch the video/interview located further down this page…]
As of 9am this morning, Tuesday, 11/18/2014, Kaviena and her family will have no place to go. A local housing assistance organization is trying to place her in a temporary homeless shelter, but that may mean splitting up her family and Kaviena being relocated off Cape… something Kaviena is trying to avoid. Her family is all she has left, and to be separated from them will only compound her recent tragedy.
Kaviena is recovering from a recent emergency Caesarean section which required 17 staples. All her support and medical care is right here in Hyannis… Her mother and brother had recently left their home in Connecticut and moved in with Kaviena to bring the family together and provide help. Her 15-year-old brother just enrolled at Barnstable High School and is scheduled to begin classes this morning. Her mother is looking for local work so she can provide both financial and child care assistance.
Everything was going along as planned when suddenly a fire broke out in a separate basement residence below their third floor apartment this past Saturday evening.
All their worldly possessions were destroyed.
However, Kaviena is very grateful she still has her family. In fact, after Saturday’s tragic fire, her family and friends are all that remain in her life…
The unbearable thought of having to suddenly split up her family and move to an off-Cape shelter has caused Kaviena to reach out for help.
Last night, the family was able to stay together in a hotel room that the Red Cross provided. But the funding for the hotel room has ended. In the meantime, they’re exploring options, and waiting for better solutions to open up. They’re hoping to stay right here on Cape Cod, together as one family. They are in desperate need of more emergency shelter until something opens up here locally…
Kaviena decided to go on camera last night for her family, in an effort to buy more time. In last night’s interview, Kaviena expresses her need and makes a public plea for emergency financial assistance. It was something that wasn’t easy for her, but she did it for all the right reasons; she did it for her babies and family members.
In last night’s video interview, HN provides a phone number where the public will hopefully call and reach out directly, providing financial assistance and/or solutions if possible.
HN is asking its readers to please reach out and help this young family by calling Kaviena or her mother Latania at 774-368-2300.
The following video includes last night’s interview with Kaviena Washington… [Please take a moment to press play and watch this video…]
Again, please contact either Kaviena or her mother Latania at 774-368-2300 if you can be of any assistance whatsoever. Every little bit will help. Thank you.
Also note, there are still many other families in need of emergency housing and assistance. Other fire victims reportedly also have young children and babies. HN will be reporting on those families and their situations as that information becomes available...
11/18/2014
Robert Bastille,
P.S. -- Tonight's HyTown Vignette is brought to you by Jamiroquai... [Crank it]
