There are just some things you can’t prepare for.
Dear WWATS Friends & Family,
One week ago today, about the same time that I’m writing this email, my daughter received a call that the building where her business was located and where we hold some of our WWATS trainings caught fire. 
5 families lost everything in the apartments above.
My daughter lost basically every piece of equipment as well as office supplies, furniture and even school supplies she had just recently bought for her own children. We are so thankful that there were no injuries or fatalities!
The feeling of helplessness is real as we stood for hours watching it burn.
We are so grateful for our fire fighters who came from the local & surrounding companies and this beautiful community! 
In the following days, the community stepped up to help the families with their material needs and gift cards. They are now waiting for affordable housing.
In every situation we learn. Here’s what I learned last Friday:
My daughter is a very strong woman who knows how to comfort others in her own loss & uncertainty. 
I gained an even greater respect for first responders & firefighters as I saw the exhaustion of those that worked through the heat and danger! (Some of these people looked like babies to me!)
My faith in community has been restored listening to those who offered words of comfort, encouragement, & open hands to help. Thank you! Recovery is a big part of Emergency Preparedness. Ironically, that is what our next WWATS YouTube discussion was going to be about! 
As my daughter told her grieving students, “We are not the building. WE are Powerhouse Arts Complex .” 
We should all remember this! We are NOT our circumstances.
My daughter, Megan, turned her tragedy into triumph by stepping up to the plate and batting for those left homeless and without any belongings. She is organizing a benefit performance to help with their needs. I am the proud mom at this moment realizing that she turned out to be a wonderful, loving, caring woman who loves God & loves people!
We at WWATS will continue to offer our trainings & classes at Powerhouse Arts Complex when they are up and running again at a new location. (The former building will be taken down in about 2 weeks.)
We believe that Powerhouse will build Bigger & Stronger! And we will be there to help them along the way.
In saying that, since this is my daughter’s livelihood and Powerhouse has students waiting to resume their lessons as quickly as possible, we are helping them get the word out to those who may want to help both financially and/or donate some of the items listed below.
As well as her source of income, here are some of the things they lost. They are basically starting over from the beginning.
| Business Start Up Fees | (Signage, Certificate of Occupancy, Insurance, etc.) | $500 | |
| Materials (Itemize) | Dance Floor | $4400 | |
| Ballet barre, weights, gymnastics apparatus, Yoga equipment | $3300 | ||
| Mirrors | $2000 | ||
| Stereo System | $1500 | ||
| Office Equipment & Supplies (Printer, Paper, etc.) | $1500 | ||
| Furniture | Waiting room chairs, office desk, shelving | $1000 |
If anyone is led in their heart to give towards the recovery & rebuilding of the business please go here, https://worldwideacademytrainingservices.org/
to donate on our page, and mark it “Restore”.
Thank you to those who will help! Besides that, prayers, of course are welcome. We are grateful for everyone of you!
Keep alert, aware, prepping, and praying, Friends!
Donna Penna, WWATS