On January 18, 2011 I received a phone call informing me that my house was on fire. I rushed home to see fire fighters and hoses streaming into my house. Thankfully, a police officer had noticed the smoke coming out of a bedroom window and the fire department was able to respond within minutes. This quick response by the Hudson Fire Department saved my home from burning to the ground.
The entire upper level of my home had extensive smoke and soot damage. The smell was unbelievable. We were able to tour the home to see the damage and quickly realized we were going to be displaced from our home for many months. Once we were at my sister's house and then a hotel, we discovered how many things we needed in the first couple of days. We had to make many trips to the store to buy shampoo, notebooks, pens, baggies, nail clippers, deodorant and several other essentials. The last thing you want to do in the immediate aftermath of a house fire is make multiple trips to the store.
During our 6 months away from our home, my kids and I came up with an idea to help other individuals displaced by a fire. We decided that we would put together a container with all of the essentials that people will find themselves needing when they don't have any of their personal items from home. This will ease the stress a bit in the days after a fire. I looked online to see if anyone else had a program like this and was lucky enough to connect with a woman in Ohio named Tammy. Ironically, her family had been displaced by a house fire less than a year before and she developed a program called Tammy's Totes! We were able to talk on the phone and exchange ideas and information. We are both excited to be up and running these "sister programs" to help people whose lives are turned upside down because of a house fire.
At this point in time, Tara's Totes provides totes to families in the Hudson, WI; St. Croix Valley and Minneapolis/St. Paul MN area. We are not able to ship totes to other states. However, you can print off the contents and put together a tote for a friend or loved one!
At this point in time, Tara's Totes provides totes to families in the Hudson, WI; St. Croix Valley and Minneapolis/St. Paul MN area. We are not able to ship totes to other states. However, you can print off the contents and put together a tote for a friend or loved one!
What is in Tara's Totes?
Plastic tote/bin, men & women's deodorant, travel toothpaste, 4 pack of toothbrushes, regular size
shampoo & conditioner, comb, brush, ponytail holders, men's & women's razors, one bar of soap, travel size hairspray, 2 bath towels, 2 bath washcloths, dental floss, Ziploc sandwich bags, Ziploc extra-large tote size bags, trash bags, plastic utensils, paper plates, paper bowls, roll of quarters travel size first aid kit, tampons/pads, 4 pack toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, small contact solution, chapstick, hand soap, lotion, plastic cups, baby wipes, flashlight, travel size kleenex, travel size q-tips, motrin/ibuprofen, dish soap, laundry detergent, fabric softener sheets, nail clipper, clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, medium size manilla envelopes to store receipts, 3 subject notebook and pens.
Plastic tote/bin, men & women's deodorant, travel toothpaste, 4 pack of toothbrushes, regular size
shampoo & conditioner, comb, brush, ponytail holders, men's & women's razors, one bar of soap, travel size hairspray, 2 bath towels, 2 bath washcloths, dental floss, Ziploc sandwich bags, Ziploc extra-large tote size bags, trash bags, plastic utensils, paper plates, paper bowls, roll of quarters travel size first aid kit, tampons/pads, 4 pack toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, small contact solution, chapstick, hand soap, lotion, plastic cups, baby wipes, flashlight, travel size kleenex, travel size q-tips, motrin/ibuprofen, dish soap, laundry detergent, fabric softener sheets, nail clipper, clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, medium size manilla envelopes to store receipts, 3 subject notebook and pens.
Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or submit comments below.