A devastating house fire in Mauldin, South Carolina, has left a local family with absolutely nothing just weeks before the holiday season. The blaze, which ignited in the garage of a home on Tolbert Drive, rapidly consumed the entire structure, leaving a family of four and their beloved dog displaced.
The community, however, is stepping up in a remarkable display of solidarity and generosity. The effort to help the affected family is being spearheaded by Lezah Hanna, owner of Piper Paws Boutique, and her mother, Amanda Hanna. Lezah, whose business was set to participate in the Christmas Market at Bridgeway Station, felt compelled to rally support for their close family friend, Ana.
Ana, along with her husband and two young children, lost their home and all their possessions in the fire. The bond between the families is deeply personal. Amanda Hanna explained that Ana and Lezah met through their respective businesses – Ana’s Sweet Pawcakes, a local dog treat company, and Lezah’s Piper Paws Boutique, which specializes in dog bandanas. Their shared passion for canine companions quickly blossomed into a strong friendship, with Amanda describing Ana as someone “like family to us.”
“Everyone loves Ana, so it’s not hard to become very good friends,” Amanda shared. Ana’s business, Sweet Pawcakes, was scheduled to be a vendor at the same Christmas Market as Piper Paws Boutique, highlighting their shared entrepreneurial spirit and close-knit community involvement.
The emotional toll on Ana and her family is significant. Amanda reported that Ana is “holding up okay, she’s overwhelmed, as anybody would be if they lost their home, especially right at Christmas time, and has two little ones to take care of, love and let know it’s okay.” The timing of the tragedy, so close to the holidays, amplifies the sense of loss and uncertainty for the family.
Community Response and Donation Drive
The initial call for help came from Piper Paws Boutique, asking the community to bring donations to their booth at the Christmas Market. The overwhelming response has been a testament to the community’s spirit.
Amanda Hanna emphasized the most impactful way individuals can contribute at this time:
- Gift Cards: “The best thing if anybody wants to help would be to get gift cards for them so that they, once they are established in their home, before they get their new home built, they can then go out and use those gift cards to purchase the things that they need.” Gift cards offer the family the flexibility to purchase essential items as they navigate their immediate needs and long-term housing solutions.
The outpouring of support has been deeply moving for both the Hanna family and Ana. Amanda expressed her admiration for the community’s willingness to help strangers:
“I just love how our community comes together for people they don’t even know to help them. And the fact that it’s overwhelming for me, I know it is for Ana because she’s always a giver, she loves to give to everybody and anybody she can give to. So for her to be the recipient of it, it’s just really overwhelming her of how much people love her. People don’t even know her, they care enough to help.”
How to Contribute
As of recent updates, Piper Paws Boutique successfully collected two carloads of essential items, including clothing, toys, and blankets. The focus has now shifted to securing gift cards to provide the family with the autonomy to meet their specific needs.
Donations can be dropped off directly at the Piper Paws Boutique booth at Bridgeway Station on Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For those who are unable to attend the market but still wish to contribute, Amanda Hanna stated that individuals can reach out to them directly for alternative donation arrangements. The community’s collective effort underscores the profound impact of neighborly kindness during times of crisis.