The community came together to support a couple in Kamloops after they lost everything, including their two kittens, in a devastating house fire last month.
Jaylie Holmes and her partner, Duncan Riddell, lost their house and all their personal belongings to a devastating fire. While the couple managed to escape, they could not save their two cats, Honey and Bee, whom they loved like children. The fire destroyed one mobile home and damaged another in the 200 block of Larkspur Street in North Kamloops.
Jaylie’s sister, Rebecca Holmes, started an online fundraiser and shared the couple’s situation with the community. She also shared that Jaylie had spent years helping others as a volunteer firefighter. When the community learned about the heartbreaking situation, there was a huge outpouring of support and donations. In under 48 hours, the fundraiser received overwhelming support, raising over three times its original goal. The GoFundMe page can be found here.
Jaylie Holmes and Duncan Riddell were overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of family, especially Rebecca, friends, and the wider community. The couple shared that while they still face many challenges ahead, the support they’ve received through messages, donations, and people sharing their story has given them hope and comfort during an incredibly difficult time.
Despite losing everything, the couple said the experience has reminded them how much love and support still surrounds them as they begin rebuilding their lives together.
