Frontenac 4H Supports Inverary Fire Victims
The community around Inverary and South Frontenac has kicked into gear in response to the fire that destroyed the home of Shelby Eves, Travis Wallace and their son Grayson less than two weeks ago. Donations poured in to them directly, and through local businesses. A Gofundme campaign had its target revised upwards, and has raised $22,000 towards a target of $28,000 as of early this week.
Shelby, who works as a PSW at Fairmount Home, was a local 4H Club member until just a few years ago, and in the winter time the 4H Community Involvement fund is an active group, and when club leader Darlene Clement suggested they might do something for Shelby, Travis and Grayson, the club members immediately clicked into gear.
They decided to put on a lunch time fundraiser on Saturday, January 31st, at the Inverary United Church Hall, starting at 12noon. There will be a variety of soups, chili and buns available, along with desserts, all for a $10 donation. 4H members and other volunteers will be preparing the food. Local businesses have been approached to provide the ingredients and have responded. The 4H members are working out all the logistics for the lunch, which will also include a silent auction, which will include some home-made pies. A collection jar will be available as well.
“There is a lot of energy in the group for this fundraising event. They have been actively doing stuff for vulnerable people in Kingston, and since our group has such a large age range, 9 to 21, some of them knew Shelby when she was in 4H. And a lot of them know Shelly, Shelby's mom, who is a 4H leader, so it is very easy for everyone to get behind this, not that they wouldn't jump in if it was someone they did not know,” said Darlene Clement.
The house fire in Inverary was the first of two fires last week in South Frontenac that destroyed homes. South Frontenac Fire and Rescue were called to a home on Petworth Road, north of Harrowsmith, on Monday, January 5th.
In both the Inverary and Harrowsmith fires, crews arrived in time to prevent the homes from burning to the ground, but in both cases, the homes will not be able to be lived in again.
Deputy Fire Chief Brad Smith said that crews arrived quickly, in both cases.
“The Inverary fire appeared to start in the garage, and spread to the house. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon and got called in very quickly, but it still did a lot of damage. The response to the Petworth fire was triggered by an alarm company that received a notice when the alarm went off, and was called in as well. The fire started on the second floor and we were able to keep it from spreading to the ground level, but the water damage still makes the house unlivable. But most of the family's belongings on the ground floor could be salvaged because they were not damaged. It is important to save possessions when we can,” he said.
Crews from several South Frontenac Halls, as well as Stone Mills, worked on the Petworth Road fire. The family was not at home at the time of the fire.
“It's been a busy week for us,” said Smith.
