Family coping after loss of home
In need after Sept. 14 apartment fire
Sherry Matchem and her family have had trials and tribulations this year, the latest being a fire at their rental home.
"We've had our fair share of stress over the year. My little girl had cancer last year and it's just been a crazy year for us," Matchem said.
Matchem, her boyfriend and her three children lost the home they were renting to a fire in mid September. The family will need almost all new clothes and a lot of new furniture due to smoke and fire damage. And they will definitely need a new home.
The Red Cross covered some nights in a hotel for the family, but they will soon need a new home.
"Three kids in a hotel room, that's not easy," Matchem said.
Living in a hotel room also comes with a hefty price tag — an efficiency room at the Mount Peyton costs $142 a night.
The family will move into Central Apartments for what they hope will be a short-term stay of just a couple of days. Some of the cost of staying there will be paid for by Social Services.
"They're covering a few nights, but they can't cover much more than that," Matchem said.
She said she is not sure how many nights will be covered, as they are still straightening that out.
The family is looking for a new home to rent in Grand FallsWindsor. If they cannot find anything, they will have to move out of the town to live with family, as they have no family in Grand Falls-Windsor.
"We really don't want to leave. I mentioned it last night and my little girl was heartbroken when I said that," Matchem said.
The family has set up a Go Fund Me page online where anyone can make a donation. The donations are deposited directly into Matchem's Pay Pal account and will help the family buy the things they lost when their home caught fire.
Nevertheless, Matchem said the family is coping.
"It's pretty stressful, but we're doing it," she said.
Anyone who would like to give a donation to help the family of five can do so at www.gofundme.com/535g92a4