It has not yet been a week since tragedy struck Lake Highlands.

In the early morning hours of Thursday, November 12th, the Mulloy-Levine family lost their lives in a fire that engulfed their home on Windy Crest Drive.

The awful news traveled fast, and much to the credit of our community, the response in time of crisis has been just as quick.

"So many people have stepped up to help," says Jennifer Eckert, LH resident and community volunteer with the group, Moss Haven Moms.

"I think everyone has been struck by the overwhelming sense of loss, and they are rushing to help in any way they can."

The fire that claimed the lives of Romina Mulloy, her husband Michael Levine, and their 4-year-old son Ariel, has empowered local friends to help meet the needs of family members during this awful time.

It is Eckert's group in fact, the Moss Haven Moms, who have been working tirelessly over the last week to organize meals for Mulloy's mother, help coordinate transportation for out-of-town relatives, and raise money in memory of the family.

In describing Romina, volunteer Skye MacLaren speaks fondly of her memory.

"I've never seen someone with so much energy and so excited to be in Lake Highlands with their family," says MacLaren. As a volunteer with the moms' group, MacLaren is working to coordinate services for the firefighters who first responded to the fire.

"In addition to the devastation the family is experiencing, there are a number of first responders who are grieving, as well."

"Our group really wanted to help meet the needs of Romina and Michael's family in addition to remembering the firefighters are who struggling with this overwhelming loss of life," she says.

The efforts of the Moss Haven Moms group are truly admirable. They are organized and efficient, and they welcome the help of the community at large.

"Reaching out to help is actually getting us through the grief," says Eckert. "Everyone wants to feel like they are helping in some way, even people who didn't personally know Romina, Michael and Ariel."

"One small group can make such a difference during a time like this," adds MacLaren. "As others join in the effort, it helps us heal, seeing what we're all capable of."

To that end, that are a number of ways to lend support. The Moss Haven Moms have generously shared the following information, so that anyone interested in supporting the memory of this Lake Highlands family can participate in the effort.

Funeral Arrangements
The funeral service will take place on Thursday, November 19th at 10:00 a.m. at the Sparkman Funeral Home, located at 7405 W. Northwest Highway. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association Scholarship Foundation in support of the Romina L. Mulloy Bossio Memoriam Scholarship.

Memorials
Checks can be mailed directly to the Romina Mulloy Fund c/o Plains Capital Bank at Victory Park. The address is 2323 Victory Avenue, Ste. 300 Dallas, TX 75219. Please address the donation to the attention of JJ Gomez, President.

Book Drive
In addition to other community commitments, Romina volunteered regularly at Julius Dorsey Elementary school in Dallas. As Romina was dedicated to education and literacy efforts, the family is requesting donations of books, in memory of the family, be made to the school.

There will be a book drop at the Lake Highlands Early Childhood PTA Shopping Soiree tomorrow, November 19th at St. James Episcopal Church. Both gifts of books and monetary donations will be accepted for the duration of the event. For questions concerning the book drive, please contact Jill Schuler at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Firefighters Meals
In an effort to show the community's appreciation for the first responders, volunteers from the Moss Haven Moms group are delivering meals to DFR Stations #28, #29 and #57. For those interested in providing meals or helping in their delivery, please contact Skye MacLaren at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Local restaurants are encouraged to participate, as well.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Mulloy-Levine family and the members of our community who are reaching out in service to them.