My name is Jennifer Mcconnell, and I’m a mother of two living here in Ottumwa. Last Tuesday, our lives were turned upside down in a matter of minutes. A faulty wire behind our old refrigerator sparked a sudden grease fire in our kitchen. Thankfully, we all got out safely, but the fire and toxic smoke completely destroyed our kitchen, rendering our home unlivable due to air quality.

To make matters worse, our homeowner’s insurance denied the immediate displacement claim, citing a 'lack of maintenance on older appliances' clause. Right now, we are crammed into a basic motel room, and my savings are completely gone from paying the upfront mitigation deposit. I need $7,500 to pay for professional smoke remediation and to buy basic cooking supplies so I can bring my kids back to a safe home. I’ve worked hard my whole life, but this unexpected disaster has left me completely helpless. Any donation or share helps more than you know. Thank you.