‘A kind, beautiful lady.’ Fundraiser set up for family of Nipomo teen killed in house fire
The community of Nipomo is rallying behind the family of the teenage girl killed in a tragic house fire on Tuesday.
A GoFundMe fundraising campaign was set up Thursday in the teen’s memory and quickly amassed more than $31,000 overnight.
Carly Krauk, 17, was a “bright, young member of our Nipomo community,” according to the GoFundMe campaign, “Help grieving Krauk family in time of mourning.”
“(She) was a kind, beautiful lady who loved God and her family,” the fundraiser’s description reads. “She was the pride and joy of her mom Denice, and her dad Tim Krauk who are longtime residents of Nipomo, and who are very involved in our community.”
Krauk died in a house fire on Tefft Street early Tuesday morning that also injured two other people and killed three dogs. The fire is currently under investigation, according to Cal Fire.
According to the GoFundMe site, which was set up by District 4 Supervisor Lynn Compton on Thursday night, Krauk was a recent graduate of Nipomo High School who planned to attend Grand Canyon University in Phoenix in January.
Most recently, Krauk worked as a waitress and hostess at Kay’s Country Kitchen in Orcutt.
Krauk was also involved in New Life Church in Pismo Beach, where she volunteered at the Sunday school, according to the GoFundMe.
“Carly always said that her idea of happiness was to spend the day with the people she loved the most,” the GoFundMe site reads. “Those people were her family and friends. She left both her immediate family, and her extended Nipomo family and friends much too soon.”
Only 16 hours after the GoFundMe campaign launched, more than $31,500 had already been donated toward a goal of $50,000, with one donor pledging $2,000 alone.
In the campaign description, Compton said she hopes the community will continue to come together to support Krauk’s family and help ease financial concerns they might be facing “due to this unexpected accident and their loss of Carly.”
“Our community always comes together at such times and supports each other,” the GoFundMe reads. “At this time of such loss, I am asking that we support this family who has done so much for this community. I am confident we will step up and show her family our love and support at this difficult time.”
To donate, visit the GoFundMe page at bit.ly/3q9H5Xe.
Second fundraiser set up for Nipomo family that lost home
A second, separate GoFundMe fundraiser was set up for Krauk’s extended family, whose home was destroyed in the blaze.
According to the GoFundMe, the house is owned by Kelly Shipley — Krauk’s aunt. At the time of the fire, Krauk was there with her brother as well as her 15-year-old cousin, Shipley’s daughter.
Krauk’s brother and cousin both sustained “minor burns and smoke inhalation” in the fire that claimed Krauk’s life, according to the GoFundMe campaign, “Help Kelly Shipley and Her Daughter.”
Meanwhile, the Shipleys lost their three family dogs as well as their Tefft Street home.
“The trauma this little family is experiencing is unfathomable,” wrote the GoFundMe campaign’s creator, Nancy Shipley, who identified herself as Kelly Shipley’s aunt.
“If you’re reading this from inside your home, take a walk around and imagine, besides the horrendous tragedy mentioned above, losing everything you see in every room of your home,” Nancy Shipley wrote. “Don’t forget to look in the kitchen, bathrooms and closets. What I’ve described above is what Kelly and her girl are trying to cope with right now while they are also mourning the loss of Kelly’s beautiful niece and her daughter’s cousin, Carly.”
As of Friday afternoon, the Shipley GoFundMe had raised $3,675 toward its $50,000 goal.
Nancy Shipley noted that “whatever you’re able to contribute ... know that any amount will most definitely help Kelly and her daughter replace some of what they’ve lost.”
To donate to the Shipleys’ GoFundMe fundraiser, visit https://bit.ly/300GMmZ.
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