The sweet Bielanko family

In one second, everything changes.

That was the headline on Babble blogger Monica Bielanko’s personal blog yesterday.

Yesterday our house caught fire. We all made it out safely thanks to a good Samaritan who banged on our door and told us the house was on fire. Panic. What do you take when you only have seconds? Your kids and your dogs and that’s it. One second you’re arguing over bullshit and the next second you don’t have a home.

Monica writes for Babble’s Strollerderby, Baby’s First Year, Being Pregnant and Toddler Times blogs. She’s also a mom to Violet and baby Henry, and wife to Serge. They were all the victims of a devastating house fire on Wednesday that, while fortunately didn’t take any lives, took most of their worldly possessions, as well as their beloved home.

But you all responded. And now Monica’s family will have some assistance in getting their life back in order.

Blogger Katie Allison Granju organized a fundraiser on behalf of the Bielankos, and in less than a day, helped raise $10,000 to “to rent a place to live (and to earn a living, since they both work from home). They will be able to pay the deposit, and the first and last month’s rent so they can move in. They will be able to get their utilities turned on. They can replace the appliances that could not be salvaged so they can keep the milk cold.  They will have money to replace the Christmas toys that burned. They will be able to buy clean sheets and towels and underwear and pajamas and socks.”

The Bielankos plan to donate any leftover money to the Red Cross to help other families in need.

Monica wrote on her blog:

Thank you friends. Your generous hearts have overwhelmed us and in spite of the circumstances we feel extremely blessed during such an awful time.

And from her colleagues and friends at Babble, we thank you, too, for helping out a sweet family during a most difficult time.

Monica Bielanko’s blog, The Girl Who, was nominated as one of Babble’s Top 100 Mom Blogs of 2011

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