Friends of a pair of roommates facing financial hardship as a result of a recent house fire in Valleycliffe have set up a trust account in their names, and are seeking donations to help the two get their lives back together.
Amber Graves and Herb Johnson were rooming together in a house on Chestnut Drive that experienced a fire in the kitchen and ceiling on March 2. The fire released potentially harmful asbestos from older insulation into the air, making it unsafe to go into the house unprotected to retrieve the tenants' belongings unprotected.
The cost of having someone do so with full protective gear, then placing the items in a hyper chamber to remove the asbestos fibres, is $5,000 to $7,000, friends Mary Schlinker and Becky Ray told The Chief on Tuesday (March 22).
The two did not have tenants' insurance and the landlord's insurance won't cover that cost, Schlinker said. That's why Graves' and Johnson's friends have set up a trust account for the two at Squamish Savings.
"They don't have the cash, and they need some money to get back on their feet financially," Schlinker said.
Donations can be made to the account in the name of Amber Graves and Herb Johnson at Squamish Savings. Possible future fundraising events are planned as well. Those with questions may email Ray at [email protected] or phone (604) 892-2346.
