Two months after a Rocky Mountain House-area mother and seven children lost their home to fire, work is well underway on its replacement thanks to community generosity.
“It’s remarkable,” said Jimmy Clark, who is among those who stepped forward to help out after the Nov. 23 blaze. The fire left single mother Connie VanderBaaren and three sons and four daughters, ages nine to 20, homeless. Two other daughters, 23- and 19-year-olds, live elsewhere.
Clark said the community has already reached its $200,000 goal, which includes cash donations and a huge amount of in-kind donations from local tradespeople. About four dozen tradespeople have offered their services so far.
“We’re going pretty full out,” he said. The ruins of the old home about five km southeast of Rocky Mountain House have been cleared away and the foundation already poured for a new home. The cold snap has slowed construction, but it is expected to be back in full swing soon and if all goes well the home could be ready for VanderBaaren in April.
“I’m pretty impressed by how it’s coming,” said Clark, who has touched by the show of community spirit. “There are just volunteers who just want to come out and swack a hammer.
“It’s just being an Albertan, to be quite honest with you.”
There have been numerous displays of kindness shown by local residents. One dentist who heard about the family’s plight from a patient immediately signed a cheque for $5,000. Brand new furnaces and numerous other building components for the bungalow have been donated.
VanderBaaren and her children have been living in a loaned mobile home since the fire.
A host of fundraising events have been organized over the past couple of months. At one event, VanderBaaren offered heartfelt thanks and even sang a song in a moving appearance.
Clark said the goal is to build a modest home for the VanderBaarens that will meet their needs. “It will be an awesome home for her and her kids.”
Fundraising efforts have been so successful it is hoped there will be some money left over. It will be used as seed money to be used for some other desperate community need in the future.
A pair of accounts, one for the house and one for family expenses, have been set up at the Rocky Credit Union.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com