Support for a Mirror family who lost their home to a fire is coming from communities all over Central Alberta.
Mirror residents Gregor and Delailah Thiesmann, their four boys between age one and 14 and their one-month-old daughter, have been without a home since shortly before Christmas.
The family is believed to be staying with relatives in British Columbia during the Christmas holidays.
Many local community organizations and businesses have come forward to help collect items and money or hold fundraisers for the family.
Wayne Rider, an employee with Trowlesworthy Industries, said it hasn’t just been from Mirror, but people in Ponoka and Red Deer who have dropped items off to the hardware store for the family.
Rider said everything from clothes and baby items to food, pots and pans and TVs have been dropped off at Trowlesworthy Industries.
A fundraiser at the Mirror Royal Canadian Legion Branch 189 last Thursday raised $1,540, with the money being passed along to an account set up for the Thiesmanns at the Alberta Treasury Branch.
“Everybody is saying it is a terrible thing to happen any time, but this is even worse,” said George Switner, president of the Mirror Royal Canadian Legion Branch 189.
“But everyone was quite responsive and positive about being able to help in whatever way they could.”
Switner said people have also dropped off household and kitchen items, a TV and a food hamper.
“The response has been unbelievable,” Switner said. He said even businesses in Stettler have donated funds to the family.
Smoke detectors went off in the Thiesmann home at 6 a.m. on Dec. 21 after a blaze started in the kitchen.
Delailah managed to get all of the children out of the home, but they lost all of their possessions. Gregor had left for work before the fire started.
Trowlesworthy Industries, the Mirror Royal Canadian Legion Branch 189 and the General Store continue to collect items for the family. People can also make donations to a trust fund for the family at Alberta Treasury Branch locations around Central Alberta.
sobrien@www.reddeeradvocate.com