I had every intention of writing a HAPPY NEW YEAR newsletter to be sent out January 1st, but I unfortunately need to share a personal update instead. On Wednesday, December 20th, our apartment building caught fire. It began on our floor, and I was thankfully home, so I was able to get myself and Zoey out safely. And the best news is all residents were able to evacuate safely, so no casualties. Due to the winds and nature of the fire, it became a 5 alarm fire with 198 firefighters fighting for almost 5 hours to get it out. They believe the fire began due to illegal use of a blowtorch during construction of an empty apartment on our floor. Our building has been full vacate order ever since the fire. We still have not been let back into the building as it is deemed unsafe for the top floor where we live. Thanks to our doggy webcam and what we could see on it, we believe we were spared from the flames, but the firemen used our apartment to fight the fire, so the water damage will be quite extensive. We will be lucky if we can retrieve anything from the apartment. We have mourned and grieved significantly since the fire as this was our first home together and our home for 8.5 years. We've lived in two apartments in the building and cherish our community in the building as well as all their pets. Zoey is extremely beloved in our building and so well taken care of with pets, treats and playdates. To see our home and sense of comfort and safety taken away is a new level of hurt I have not experienced and wouldn't wish on anyone. So many of you have reached out and want to help. We already have received such immense help - many selfless friends have offered us temporary shelter, home cooked meals, clothing and toiletries and financial assistance for future needs. We know that many in our building are not near as privileged as we are. Our goal throughout this process has been to make sure the needs of our neighbors are taken care of as much as ours. With that in mind, I am going to share several GoFundMe links below. One is for the whole building as well as for individual families who we are close with, one being our neighbor directly on our floor in our old apartment who truly have nothing left as the flames destroyed everything they own. I will share ours as well, but please consider contributing to the funds of families in our building. They need help more than we do. I will be sure to donate 20% of proceeds from January's Pilates On Demand to those families directly. If you haven't already, you also can sign up for my platform and take my On Demand classes. I will do my best to update with new classes as I can. But know there are 150 classes there, so you will be well taken care of in my absence. Thank you all again for your support. I hope you know that I am so ready to support you should you ever need. We have no idea how we will ever repay all of you, but we certainly will do our best to pay it forward and continue to advocate for all those in need. All our love and wishing you the healthiest, happiest and safest new year, - Sarah, Adam and Zoey
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January 2025
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