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DENVER -- A young couple lost everything when their apartment caught fire and weeks later they are still sleeping on an air mattress.
Shereem Rivera and her boyfriend, Azael Ceballos, moved to Colorado three years ago to start a life together, but now they need help rebuilding.
HOW TO HELP: Click here to Help Shereem and Azael through Contact7 Gives.
When a fire started in the apartment below them on August 18, they barely made it out. Their apartment was filling up with smoke and Rivera said the fire had moved to the attic. She grabbed the dog and ran, leaving photos, her cell phone and everything else behind.
"We’re just going through our renter's insurance and everything but it’s not enough for everything that was taken," said Rivera.
A church and some neighbors donated a few pieces of furniture but they still need a bed. Rivera says they also need kitchen utensils, pots and pans, toiletries and clothes.
A sign that says, 'Home Sweet Home' hangs in their new place. She is also a plant lover and two of her plants survived the fire, but not much else did.
"We had a dog that passed away recently and we had his ashes there and that’s one thing we were trying really hard to get but they weren’t able to get that," said Rivera.
The couple is determined to stay positive, hoping their apartment will soon feel a little more like home.
“Life happens and then you just gotta keep going," said Rivera.
Denver7 has created an easy way for people to help others in our community. We have featured the stories of people who need help and now you help them with a cash donation through Contact7 Gives. One hundred percent of contributions to the fund will be used to help people in our local community.
