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- 17 - accessHealthNews.net November 2021 Volume 8 | Issue No. 51 "It was on Christmas Day – the kids were outside playing, saw smoke, and came running inside the house." For many, the joyful holiday season may conjure the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls or the sound of church choirs caroling. In warm, still homes, crisp evergreen trees await decoration and the soft glow of twinkling lights. For one Lexington resident, however, Christmas memories are clouded by chaos, crimson flames, thick smoke, and gray ash. Several years ago, on Christmas Day, Kathy Meierer lost her home in an electrical fire. She immediately called 911 and rushed her family to safety, leaving her children's presents behind as they turned to dust. "The fire destroyed everything," she said, recalling the day she lost her home. "My son burned his arm trying to put the fire out. It was just a mess. All the kids' presents burned and we lost our home. It was just such a sad day." STARTING OVER After extinguishing the fire, the fire department supplied Meierer with a $1,000 voucher, which she used to house herself and her family in a motel until she was able to find a house. Once they were safe, she quickly reached out to people she knew in the community, including Shelly Harden, a community health worker at HCC Network. In the immediate emotional aftermath of the fire, HCC was able to restore some Christmas spirit. The organization gifted Meierer with a Walmart gift card, allowing her to replace her family's lost presents. Through HCC's warehouse, she received hygiene items, blankets, and other necessities to use in the motel. When she eventually found a house for rent through a friend in the community, she received a fridge and some furniture through the warehouse as well. With a hand up from HCC and the support of her neighbors, Meierer was able to eventually get into a new home and back on her own two feet. GivingTuesday is a global movement celebrating the power of generosity. What began as a simple day of kindness has since become an annual day of charity, encouraging people around the world to give what they can. This GivingTuesday, on November 30, please consider making a donation to HCC Network to support those in need. Donations to HCC, including donations to their supply warehouse, directly help families like Meierer's in the community. "It was a long journey. The community, my place of work, and HCC helped a lot. They were very nice. Shelly [Harden] helped in any way she could, anything from the warehouse I needed. I would like to say thank you to HCC for everything they've done, not just for me but for the community." This GivingTuesday, HCC Asks for Your Support. Your Generosity Goes a Long Way in Supporting Those in the Community Who Need it Most. HCC's supply warehouse, established in 2015, houses hygiene items, linens, furniture, appliances, medical equipment and more materials available for those in need. HCC Chief Network Development Officer Suzanne Smith helped establish the warehouse after seeing a similar model in Warrensburg while planning future Project Connect events. The one-day public health events allow adults in the community to receive free health services, as well as access to necessities from the warehouse. DONATE TO HCC

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