After the Fire: Why We're Raising Money for Heather

In a matter of hours, Heather Doherty lost her home and virtually everything she owned.

Heather was home when a fire broke out at her house in Toronto. She was rescued from the second-storey along with Harley, the little dog who has since the official mascot of the upcoming benefit and the star on all the merch and posters.

They got out. That is the part we're incredibly grateful for.

But getting out was only the beginning.

The fire left Heather's home badly damaged and much of what was inside was destroyed. There was no insurance policy waiting to cover the loss and no cheque arriving to replace furniture, clothing and everyday necessities. No company taking responsibility for the cleanup or the enormous amount of work that comes after a house fire.

Heather suddenly had to figure out where she was going to live while also dealing with a home full of fire damage, rubble and everything else a fire leaves behind.

That's why we're raising money.

Starting Over Is Expensive

When we talk about losing everything in a fire, it's easy to picture the big things: the house, furniture, appliances and electronics.

But it's also hundreds of ordinary things you don't think about until they're gone.

Clothing. Shoes. Toiletries. Towels. Bedding. Kitchen supplies. Chargers. Medication and personal items. The stuff tucked into drawers and cupboards that took years to accumulate and that nobody would ever think to put on a list.

Suddenly, all of those things have to be replaced while you're also trying to pay for somewhere else to live.

Heather has been using money raised through the GoFundMe to help cover temporary housing and basic necessities while she works out what can be done with the house.

And the expenses don't stop there.

The House Still Needs Work

A fire doesn't end when the fire trucks leave.

There is still an enormous cleanup ahead.

Parts of Heather's home require rubble and damaged material to be removed. There are electrical and plumbing issues that need attention. Mould remediation has become part of the process as well following the water damage caused by the firefighters extinguishing the blaze.

Some of the work is being tackled directly rather than handed over to an insurance company or restoration service, because there isn't an insurance company coordinating the recovery.

That means figuring things out one problem at a time.

What can be saved?

What has to be removed?

What needs to be repaired before anything else can happen?

What does it cost?

And then, inevitably: what problem did we discover underneath that problem?

Recovery from something like this isn't one enormous expense. It's an endless collection of them.

Why We're Doing a Benefit

Heather has been part of the Roncesvalles community for years.

For roughly 15 years, she ran Maggie's Farm on Roncesvalles. If you spent time in the neighbourhood during those years, there's a decent chance you knew the shop, knew Heather or knew someone who did.

So when the fire happened, we wanted to do more than simply share a fundraising link.

We decided to make some noise.

On November 1, we're bringing bands, musicians, friends, neighbours and local supporters together at Society Clubhouse in Toronto for an all-day benefit for Heather.

There will be a matinee and an evening show, live music throughout the day, fundraising, a Maggie's Farm booth selling benefit merch and some old favourites from the store, and plenty of other opportunities to throw a few dollars toward helping someone who could really use it.

Where the Money Goes

Money raised for Heather is helping with the very practical realities of what happens after losing a home without insurance.

That includes temporary rent and housing costs, replacing everyday essentials, removing rubble and damaged materials, mould remediation, minor electrical and plumbing work, and the many unexpected expenses that appear as the cleanup continues.

There isn't one magic dollar amount that suddenly makes everything fixed.

This is about giving Heather some breathing room while she works through an extraordinarily difficult situation.

A donation can help.

Buying a ticket to the benefit can help.

Buying a shirt or button can help.

Sharing the fundraiser can help.

Coming to the show, bringing your friends and filling the room can help.

Good Songs for Good Neighbours

One phrase kept coming up while we were designing everything for the benefit:

Good songs for good neighbours.

It stuck because that's really what this is.

We can't undo the fire or replace every sentimental thing that disappeared inside that house, and we can't make the months ahead simple. But we can put a bunch of bands in a room. Make some amazing shirts totes, and buttons. Have local businesses generously contribute. Pass a donation jar around.

And we can buy tickets, share the fundraiser and show up.

We can take a terrible set of circumstances and answer it with something useful.

And maybe that's what a neighbourhood is supposed to do.

The Heather Doherty Benefit takes place November 1 at Society Clubhouse in Toronto. You can support Heather by donating directly to the GoFundMe through the link on our homepage, purchasing benefit merchandise or joining us for the show.