SARASOTA – “Panic, we had about ten minutes before we would’ve been dead. The whole house was on fire without us even knowing, we were sleeping.”
BilliJo Zobrist, her 16-year-old daughter and Zobrist’s boyfriend had minutes to react and flee the enflamed home the night of July 20th. An electrical fire ravaged the Sarasota house leaving behind ash and angst.
“We’re just doing what we can, we’re scrapping whatever right now because we have nothing right now besides basically what’s on our back and then a porch full stuff from donations from the community. We are at rock bottom,” said Zobrist.
That’s why Zobrist is our Helping Hand recipient for August, sponsored by Carl Reynold’s Law.
“On behalf of my law firm, we’d like to give you this check for $1000 for our helping hand in hopes it helps you through this difficult time” said Reynolds.
Difficult time indeed, as Zobrist struggles to navigate this personal disaster just as the school year gets back in to full swing.
“A thousand dollars…when you don’t have anything? A penny is something when you have nothing, my daughter is going to have school clothes,” said Zobrist.
While Zobrist is thankful to be alive and okay, she maintains the mental battle is the most difficult to overcome.
“I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. When you have nothing after 25 years of stuff, it’s a mental crisis,” said Zobrist.
A crisis that family and friends have done their best to help, even going so far as setting up a Go Fund Me page hoping to reach a $4000 goal.
While the money will aid Zobrist, she says a hug and emotional support is equally as healing as it is important.
