Helping former Tulsans who lost everything in the LA wildfires

Yesterday I received the sad news that Josiah and Erin Conrad, friends from Tulsa who are now living in southern California, lost their home in the Altadena wildfire. They were among many Californians who had been unable to secure insurance coverage.

Josiah was a program manager for FlightSafety in Broken Arrow. Erin was involved in Republican politics in the Oughts, then became a well-regarded portrait photographer. Eleven years ago this month, they moved to southern California and have since added two children to the family.

Three of their friends (two of whom, Connie Pearson and Jeremy Bradford, I know from local politics 20 years ago) have set up a GoFundMe to help the Conrad family recover:

As you know, the Los Angeles area has been devastated by wildfires in recent days, and our dear friends, Josiah and Erin Conrad, along with their children, Naomi and Benjamin, have lost everything. Their home in Altadena was completely destroyed, and, tragically, all of their belongings have been lost to the flames. The emotional toll of such a loss is unimaginable, but on top of that, they are now facing the overwhelming task of rebuilding their lives without any insurance coverage. Despite their best efforts, they were not able to secure coverage for their personal property.

We know that many of you want to help, but because of the distance and current circumstances, it can be difficult to know how. That's why we've set up this GoFundMe campaign to support Josiah, Erin, Naomi, and Benjamin as they try to recover from this unimaginable loss. Your generous donations will go directly toward helping them replace what they've lost--from the everyday essentials like toothbrushes and clothing to larger items like furniture and appliances.

Additionally, once logistics are figured out, we will share a link to their Amazon wish list for those who prefer to send specific items directly to the family. Every little bit counts, whether it's a financial donation or a much-needed household item.

We wish we could physically be there to lend a hand, but this is the next best way to show our love and support. Together, we can make sure that they don't face this hardship alone.

Thank you for any contribution you can make, whether large or small. Your kindness will make a world of difference to the Conrads during this difficult time.

The fundraiser is going well. As I write this, over $90,000 of the $125,000 sought has been donated, after just four days. Thank you for whatever support you can provide.