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Family of six flooded with support

Friends and supporters have been stepping up to help Randy Horton and Coreen Sommers and their four children, after a devastating fire on March 9 destroyed their home.
A house fire destroyed a family home earlier this month, near Lac La Biche.
A house fire destroyed a family home earlier this month, near Lac La Biche.

Friends and supporters have been stepping up to help Randy Horton and Coreen Sommers and their four children, after a devastating fire on March 9 destroyed their home.

Tons of donations flowed in for the family, who have a two-month old baby, as well as three kids between the ages of 10 and 16, all of whom were left with nothing but the clothes on the back and a few items in their baby's diaper bag.

“Since the day of the fire, we have had so many people offering help in any way they can, from taking us in, donating items, donating money, to sending love, prayers and emotional support our way,&” Sommers wrote to the Journal, adding there were no words to express how grateful and thankful her family is “to be part of communities this amazing.&”

Sommers said the family was all out of the home when the fire began at their mobile home near Lac La Biche. Horton came home from working at farm at about 2:45 p.m. to find, to his horror, that the place was engulfed with flames. He ran in to rescue the family's puppy and pet piglet, while he called Sommers to let her know what was happening. A shocked Sommers went to pick up their school-aged children, who all attend Glendon School, a 45-minute drive away from the home.

“As I gathered up all four kids, with the help of a few of Glendon School staff, Randy had to just stand back and watch our home of only nine months burn as he waited for fire crews to arrive,&” she wrote, adding, “Despite the efforts of the fire crews, nothing could put out the fire, as they continued trying, we all just stood back and watched it destroy our home, going from one room to the next until there was nothing left.&”

However, within an hour, phone calls and messages started pouring in, with people offering support and help. Friends started a Go Fund Me page that had raised $4,630 so the family could find a place to rent.

Glendon School had also been considering how to help, as the children attend there and relatives of the family work at the school.

Every year, the school holds a cake auction with proceeds going towards the student leadership group, said teacher Brittany Norton, who thought she might ask the students if the funds could go towards the affected family this year.

“Even before I said anything, or told them about the fire, they decided they would take the proceeds to give it to the family,&” she said.

This is Norton's first year as facilitator for the senior leadership group, but she has heard that in past years, the event has had as many as 50 cakes donated, ranging from student-made ones to professional ones, with a few thousand dollars raised each time.

“There usually are some pretty impressive cakes,&” she said.

The family's immediate needs have been taken care of, but she says the goal now is to help them in their next steps, including helping them replace their belonging. She invites anyone interested, including community members, businesses and parents to donate a cake, only asking that a list of ingredients be supplied as well in case of allergies. This year's theme is Mother Nature, but the cakes do not necessarily have to fit in the theme, she said.

The cake auction will be held on April 6, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the live cake auction starting at 7 p.m., with everyone welcome to come in and take part for a good cause.

The Goodridge 4-H Beef Club is also pitching in to hold benefit dance to support one of its 4-H families, which, like many others, is in the midst of the calving season. The dance will take place on April 8 at Goodridge Hall, starting at 8 p.m., with Anthony Bilodeau serving as DJ and the beef club providing a midnight lunch. Donations will be accepted at the door.

“In our time of devastation, we never thought we'd feel so blessed, but because of all the amazing people we do. From our entire hearts, thank you everyone for all you're doing; we appreciate each and every one of you,&” said Sommers.

Anyone who may want to help the family, but is unable to attend the benefit dance or cake auction can also make donations to the family through the Go Fund Me page, at https://www.gofundme.com/house-fire-effecting-family-of-6

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