Neighbors help fire victims

Published 10:05 pm Monday, December 18, 2017

An older couple living in the Suffolk Meadows neighborhood lost their home and possessions in a fire on Saturday, and neighbors are asking for help to get them back on their feet.

The fire was reported at 4:14 p.m. in the 300 block of Page Place, according to a city press release. Units arrived to find the two-story home fully engulfed in flames.

The couple, who wished to remain unidentified at this time, and their dog were home at the time of the fire, but there were no injuries to the occupants or to fire personnel. Suffolk Fire and Rescue was still investigating the incident as of Monday.

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Suffolk Meadows Home Owners Association Board Member Nicholas Borelli organized a GoFundMe page for the family on Saturday, and $1,820 of the $10,000 goal had been raised as of Monday evening.

Additionally, neighbor Michelle Hendrickson is accepting donations such as gift cards, non-perishable food, household items and lawn and garden tools for the family.

Hendrickson also suggested Visa gift cards, products for the family’s small dog, and kitchen appliances.

“They have nothing,” she said. “You have to think down to socks and undergarments. They walked out with the clothes on their back, and that’s all that they have anymore.”

Physical donations can be made at Dynamic Movements School at 3205 Bridge Road, where Hendrickson is a dance instructor. Donations can be made Tuesday through this Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. If there is a good response, Hendrickson will find a new donation site after Thursday, which is the dance school’s last day before Christmas break.

“We can pull together as a community and show this family that we all care,” Hendrickson said. “One of the things people say is that Suffolk is a nice place to live in. Let’s show them that it truly is.”

Call 686-0554 or email mrhendri@charter.net for more information. Donate to the GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/page-place-house-fire.