HCA collecting for fire victims

CARP – A devastating fire in downtown Carp last week left two young families homeless. In typical West Carleton fashion, the community is working hard to help both families get back on their feet.

Last week the employer of the mom of three (name not released) who lived at the home launched a gofundme page that, last West Carleton Online checked, raised almost $10,000 in less than a day.

Now the Huntley Community Association (HCA) is working with the Carp community to help Partick Rupert and his young son get back on their feet and in to a furnished home.

Today (March 13), the Huntley Community Centre (108 Juanita St. – the outdoor rink beside the Carp arena) will be open from noon to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. so people can drop off home goods to help Rupert get back up on his feet – the fire took everything both families owned. The community centre will also be open Thursday, March 21 or the same hours to receive donations next week as well.

“Most of you have probably heard my son and I, along with our upstairs neighbours, lost our home in a fire on March 5,” Rupert released in a statement yesterday (March 12). “We are incredibly grateful for how amazing the Carp and surrounding communities have been to us. With supporting our family through the Go Fund Me, countless clothing and toy donations, caring messages, and continuous support, we have managed to find the positives from this life-changing event. We are overwhelmed with the power of this community coming together.”

The pair are looking for home items for when they are able to find a new residence to move in to.

“My son and I are currently staying in a hotel, so our storage space is extremely limited,” Rupert said. “Thanks to the generosity of the HCA the community centre will open its doors for anyone who wishes to make a donation of any kind and store these items for us while we search for our new home. We have had so many people reach out asking what we need, so we have made a list. Anything is appreciated, but this list contains things that some may not think about. I will be at the community centre during these times, so please come out and say hi.”

Items needed include:

• couch (1)
• bed (2)
• mattress (2)
• table (1)
• chairs (2+)
• pants size 29 x 32 or 30 x 32
• cook ware
• side table
• dressers (2)
• lamps
• toy box/bin
• toaster
• coffee machine
• blankets
• humidifier
• printer
• tv stand
• clothes hangers
• dish towels
• bookshelf
• kids books (age 4 pre-kindergarten)
• large dog bed
• dog bowls
• dog toys (durable)
• large dog crate