New Account Open

For those wanting to send cash donations - a benefit account has been set up at:

Ackley State Bank
PO Box 128
Story City, IA 50248

Please enclose a note that states it's to be deposited into the Skaar Fire Account.
Checks can be written out to Nicki Skaar.

If you want to send personal notes and/or gift cards, please continue to send those to me at:

Skaar Donation
Deanna Faubus
703 Parkridge Ave
Huxley, IA 50124

THANK YOU again for all your prayers and generosity!

THANK YOU!!!

This experience has brought an overwhelming sense of frustration to our family, but at the same time we have never felt more loved and supported! We are feeling pretty good about the progress we have made in the last 10 days. There is no way we would have made such progress without the love and support of everyone out there who has sent an email or a card or taken the time to say a little prayer. It seems "thank you" is not enough to express our love for you all.

We hope that you all have taken the time to put fire extinguishers within reach and have checked your insurance policies. We hope that our experience can be a learning opportunity for many. Also, please support your local Red Cross. They were on the scene of the fire within 2 hours with financial and emotional support. Of course, we are lucky to have family so close, but for those without family and friends near, the Red Cross is there to act as a much needed surrogate.

SO, thank you VERY VERY VERY (not enough "verys" to match how thankful we are) much for your generosity!

Nicki, Nate, and Lilah
(Sydney & Midnight too)

First Move

The Skaar's were able to secure a one-bedroom apartment from their same landlord in Roland. They've gotten the keys and are slowly moving this week, with hopes to be completely out of the hotel by the weekend.

Yes, that's right, I said "one-bedroom" - it'll be a big change from the spacious 3-bedroom farmhouse. But for now, getting out of the hotel was a priority and there doesn't seem to be a lot of other rental properties in the area.

Please pray for another home to become available in the Roland-Story school district for them, as I'm sure the apartment will soon become cramped! But, when you don't have much stuff - maybe it'll be just fine!

Fire Safety

While this is a time to think in your mind, "I hope that never happens to me!" and you are thankful it's not you going thru this - the Skaar family would like you to get informed on fire safety and prevention to help prevent things like this from happening to you!

• Know where your fire extinguishers are - don't just say, yeah, I know where they are. Go look, right now! And make sure the gauge tells you it's full or isn't expired.
  
• Review with adults and older children how to use them.
  
• PASS: Pull pin. Aim low. Squeeze. Sweep.
  
• Check with your insurance agent about your coverage.
  
• Do you have enough?
  
• Inventory your most expensive room and take that amount times the number of rooms in your home.
  
• You may have inexpensive things, but to replace them is expensive.
  
• Is it replacement value, or just a set amount?
• Will it cover you to stay somewhere else for awhile (like a hotel)?
• If you rent, do you have renter's insurance for all your stuff?
  
• Practice candle safety.
• www.candle-safety.org
• Never leave a candle unattended.
• Keep candles out of reach of children and pets
• Even if they could bump into it while playing, or hit it with a happy dog tail.
• You may trust your children, or they are old enough to "know better," but they could accidentally throw something or bump into a table that it's on and cause the candle to fall.
  
• Never place a candle near things that can easily catch fire, like garbage cans, draperies, and furniture.
• Be sure your smoke alarms are all working. Don't say, "Yeah, they are." - go check them now.
• If you don't have a fire extinguisher, the quickest source of water in your home is the toilet.
  
• Immerse a towel in the toilet.
• Use the towel to smother a small fire.
• Or to cover yourself to escape a burning or smoky home.
  

If you have more great tips - email me at deannafaubus@yahoo.com
For extensive information go to: http://www.firesafety.gov/
This is another great source: http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/fire.html

Donation Inventory

THANK YOU for your offer to help and donate to help the Skaar's put their lives back together. Yes, it's just "stuff" - and the real important thing is that those there made it out safely! But sometimes we need some "stuff" and already we have received so many calls and emails offering up things.

We'll be keeping track of things needed, and things received here - so that they don't receive 14 queen sheet sets, and 7 full sized beds!
Contacts for this effort are:
Deanna Faubus, Nicki's sister: deannafaubus@yahoo.com
Kathy Skaar, Nate's sister: kathy08292002@yahoo.com

Things Needed:
Furniture:
end tables
dressers

Electronics:
dvd
movies
clock/radio
cd player

Other household:
bookshelves
hampers
family/adult games
children's hangers

Kitchen:
blender
waffle iron
see Pampered Chef Fundraiser

If you live far away or don't have "stuff" and would still like to help - Gift Cards are always super helpful too! Here is a list of some local stores in our area - but anything would be fine!

Target
Kmart
JCPenney
Sears
Kohl's
HyVee
Cub Foods
Casey's

Any items can be dropped off with a family member or gift cards can be sent to:
Skaar Donation
c/o Deanna Faubus
703 Parkridge Ave
Huxley, IA 50124

Things Received:
Dining Room table w/ chairs
2 over-sized chairs
19" color tv w/ remote
glass tv stand
3 men's jeans
1 men's shirt, 3 pair socks
women's clothes & shoes
women's scarf x2 and gloves
twin canopy bed
twin sheet set
full sized bed with bedding
bath towels x 6
queen size sheets
used computer & desk
loveseat
3 table lamps - 1 Lilah, 1 bedroom, 1 living room
kitchen linens - 4towel, 3 dishcloth, 1 hotpad
6 kitchen towels
drinking glasses x 4
crayola art kit
games: yatzee, go fish, crazy 8's
guesstures game
crockpot
coffeepot x 2
picture frames - 21 - various sizes
computer desk
paper, pencils, ruler, sticky pads
picture frames
VCR
toaster
qu bedspread & blanket
3 quilts - full size, 1 kids blanket
2 throws
plate shelf
set of coasters
set of dishes - 6 settings
3 stuffed animals, uno, cards, some puzzles
1 teddy bear
large mixer
summer clothes for lilah
more puzzles for lilah, and more
1 bedside table
2 duffle bags
children's movies - VHS
vacuum
iron
laundry basket
cleaning supplies
4 pillows

House Fire

The House

The Kitchen

The Living Room - where the fire started

This past weekend, on Saturday evening, January 12, we had a house fire in the home we were renting in Roland, which is just north of Ames. Everyone is okay – Nicki, Lilah and Ellie were there when it happened. It was started by a candle – and Nicki tried desperately to put it out, but it all went so quickly.

The home is still standing – but all the stuff inside was ours and it’s either burnt completely or has considerable smoke and/or water damage. It’s been a very devastating couple of days.

- and you can see the original posting of the house at http://skaarspot.blogspot.com/2007/06/new-house.html

American Red Cross

We are of sincere thanks to our local American Red Cross. They sent someone out to the house before the fire was even out! They provided information and money to help get us started putting our lives back together. In the midst of tragedy, there are organizations like this that are there to lend a helping hand.

If you are able, follow the link to make a donation to the Red Cross - supporting them allows them to continue doing what they do. Below is the link for our local branch in Ames, or the National site to find the one nearest you. Thank you!

http://www.lincolnwayarc.org/
http://www.redcross.org/