A local family who recently lost their home in a tragic fire is getting some help from one of Campbell River’s newest businesses.
Janet Gagne and Al Carter, along with their six children, lost their Vallejo Road home on the afternoon of May 19. They had insurance and no one was injured in the blaze, which was ruled accidental.
“We were looking for ways to be part of the community, and one of our baristas read about it in the paper and thought, ‘here’s someone who just lost everything and could really use some help. Maybe this is something we could do,” says Michele Hornell of Island Grind, the newest addition to Timberline Village in Willow Point.
And so, next Sunday, June 18 starting at 10:30 a.m., they will be hosting a “Walk/Run” fundraiser that will see supporters run from Island Grind through the Beaver Lodge Lands trails and end up back at the coffee shop.
“We’ll go across to the trails about 10:30 and we’ll have marked out the route and people will finish back at Island Grind for some live music on the patio,” Hornell says. “It’s pretty simple, but it should be fun and will hopefully help out a bit.”
“I knew I was surrounded by great friends, family and coworkers, but I am truly amazed at the kindness and generosity we’ve seen from the community,” says Gagne, who lost her home in the fire. “Everyone has been so helpful. I don’t even know how to say thanks enough.”
Gagne says she’d like to especially thank two school communities who stepped up to help them.
“A huge thank you to Quadra Elementary for raising funds and Ripple Rock Elementary who has been helping us with both meals and a fundraiser, along with all of the other people who have donated cloting and furiture and everything else,” Gagne says. “Everyone has shown us amazing support through all of this.”
And despite losing their home in a fire and moving from hotel to hotel since the incident, she says they are coping okay emotionally, all things considered.
“We finally found a house to rent, and we’re starting to get set up and sorted out,” she says. “Despite everything, we’re finding some good times here and there.”
A GoFundMe fundraiser has also been active since the fire, raising almost $2,500 in support as of June 7.