The Orange County community is coming together to support a local family following a devastating house fire.
According to the Orange County Volunteer Fire Company (OCVFC), on Sunday morning crews responded to a one-story home with a fire well-involved in the living room and kitchen spaces. Primary searches of the home found one deceased animal, but all other occupants were out safely. Crews were on-scene for nearly three hours.
The family of six, which includes four children ranging in age from 2 to 17, lost nearly everything. Now the community is stepping in to help. While the American Red Cross is assisting the family and school counselors are collecting donations, friend Monika Bell has created an online fundraiser to help cover temporary housing, basic needs and the costs that come with starting over. As of Wednesday evening, more than $11,000 has been raised.
Bell said the family is currently staying in a hotel and is seeking an affordable permanent place to live. Once that task is accomplished, she said they will need everything. They also lost both vehicles, but Bell said someone is in the process of donating a van.
“I started the fundraiser because these are more than friends for me,” she said. “They are like my family. I was one of the first phone calls the mom made and I went there and witnessed firsthand the tragedy so I could not sit there and do nothing.”
Bell said the family is a large part of the community. Two of the children are in multiple sports in local schools and are great students.
“[This is] showing them that things in life may look bad, but if we have each other we can make it through,” she said.
Donations are also being collected at the Taco Bell in Orange. Manager Candice Herndon said the oldest son works for her and is good friends with her son.
“When I heard what happened, we immediately stepped into action to try and get stuff for them,” she said.
Herndon has placed a box in the Taco Bell lobby and is collecting any and all donations for the family. There are also buckets for monetary donations. She said she’s also willing to accept larger donations such as furniture and any Christmas gifts for kids will be wrapped prior to delivery.
“This town is small,” Herndon said. “We need to help one another in times like this.”
In Gordonsville, local restaurants are getting involved by providing gift cards for meals. Gordonsville Town Council member Steven Irving, II said he had contacted local restaurants as a way to help.
“I was hoping to just help the parents out and [so they don’t have to] stress knowing they will have some meals already taken care of,” he said. “Having two children of my own I couldn’t imagine the stress they are under trying to make it all work.”
Irving said following Monday night’s council meeting, a resident without hesitation reached into his wallet and made a donation toward the family.
“There are so many good people in this world,” he said.
To make a donation online, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/rebuilding-hope-for-a-family-after-house-fire.
