"We cannot begin to explain the gratitude we feel"

Wednesday 19 January 2022

A family left with "only the clothes we had on our backs" after a fire destroyed their home have shared a heartfelt thanks to the community for helping them begin to rebuild their lives.

Luísa Da Encarnação, her other half Ruben and their two young daughters awoke in the early hours of Saturday morning to the sounds of a fire alarm, fleeing their Bellozanne Valley property without rescuing any possessions along the way.

Believed to have started in an airing cupboard, a fire had torn through their home.

Battling through thick smoke, firefighters equipped with breathing equipment were able to put out the blaze, but the resulting damage to the family's home and possessions was too great for them to be able to return.

Pictured: The family home after the fire.

Though grateful to have escaped with their young kitten, Simba, the family were left feeling despondent, wondering how they would begin to rebuild their lives - until the community came to their aid.

First to step up was family friend and owner of Cheias de Charme Nails and Beauty Lisa de Sousa, who started an online collection, which has so far raised more than £3,500.

In addition to setting up the JustGiving page, Lisa is now organising a beauty evening this week and will be donating the money raised from it.

Having posted about the fundraiser on Facebook, numerous other donations and offers of help came flooding in, including clothing for Luísa, Ruben and their children.

Pictured: Nearly 90 people had donated to the fundraiser at the time of writing.

Paraíso Café also donated money, and the team are now making cakes to sell at their café and raise further funds.

The Co-op also offered to raise money this week within their branches.

B&Q offered a wardrobe and a £100 voucher for anything the family - who are staying at Luísa's parents' house as they wait on the housing list - might need. 

A former colleague at Sandpiper called a member of Luísa's family, offering them anything they might need for the house, from clothes for the girls, bedding, towels, appliances and even some items for Simba.

Luísa told Express that she was "surprised" and "overwhelmed" by the community's response.

"...We thought we would have to start everything from scratch and that doesn't seem like the case anymore thankfully," she said.

She added that she was initially hesitant when she found out about the JustGiving page, as people have had a "difficult few years" due to the pandemic, but has been amazed by the generosity of islanders.

"...We are so overwhelmed with all the well wishes and donations from family, friends, acquaintances, strangers and several businesses.

"A special thank you to the Jersey firefighters for the quick response and all the help, to our incredible neighbours who helped us during the chaos, as well as Lisa at Cheias de Charme, Paraíso Cafe, B&Q, Co-op and Sandpiper for all their incredible donations to help us start over and help rebuild a home for our little ones and our fur-baby.

"It has been a difficult period for us but we cannot begin to explain the amount of gratitude we feel for all the love and support.

"Thank you Jersey."

CLICK HERE to donate to the online fundraiser.