Fire In Mt. Pleasant A few weeks ago, a devastating fire broke out on Mt. Pleasant Street a few blocks from our house. The fire leveled a 4-story apartment building and was the first 5-alarm fire in 30 years in DC. In an absolute out and out miracle, no one was killed or hurt from the blaze. All the residents managed to get out safely. Two hundred people were displaced and wound up standing in the street with nothing more than their pajamas on their backs.

In the weeks that followed, our entire community (and many others) pitched in to help the displaced residents as best as we could. Big-hearted neighbors contributed at the hardware store, and we raised more than $10,000. And after being deluged with donations, they finally had to ask people to stop donating clothes, food, and furniture. It was a hard thing to see the pain these residents have gone and are going through, but it was a marvelous thing to see so many neighbors unite and help one another.

This is quite a 'hood we live in. I'm so grateful to be a part of it.

*photo credit Brandon Wu.