Help the Lawrence Family who lost their home.

Hi, I am Scott Fracasso, a neighbor and long time friend of the Lawrence Family who were recently displaced from the home they were renting due to a fire.

I have established this GoFundMe on behalf of the Lawrence Family with both their knowledge and consent.

On Saturday, October 30th at around 3pm, a fire erupted in the bottom level of the Lawrence home, causing significant damage to all three floors. An explosion occurred (cause still unknown) in their garage, which then caused propane tanks stored there to explode as well. This blew out the garage door and set one of their vehicles ablaze, as well as damaging the front of one of their other vehicles. The entire contents of the garage are a complete loss to include some items that simply cannot be replaced, like John's motorcycle and storage containers filled with family photos and other memorabilia passed on through the generations.  All of the family's bicycles, recreational equipment, and Holiday ornaments and decorations also destroyed.

 

Milie Lawrence (49), Joseph Tretick (20), and Jonah Lawrence (20) were in their respective rooms. After hearing several loud “pops”, hearing the fire alarms go off, and feeling the home shake, they discovered black smoke filling the home coming from the bottom floor. At the time, Saraya Lawrence (29) and Alistair Harrington (1) were napping in their room directly across from the garage and adjacent to the fire. Saraya also heard the “pops” and felt the home shake. She then heard her mother screaming for her to get out of the room. She opened her bedroom door to see clouds of black smoke and flashes of light coming from the garage. She quickly grabbed her son and escape through the back door, as the rest of the occupants escaped through the front door. The family’s cat was also able to escape from the back door, and was found shaken but unharmed. The fire department arrived promptly and extinguished the fire. The rest of the family that resided there; John Lawrence (55), Selena Lawrence (18), and Frank Harrington (32); arrived shortly after.

 

The Lawrence’s lived in this home for 13 years, and lost many essential belongings, as well as beloved, irreplaceable items, including family photo albums, paintings by Milie’s father, and all of their Christmas decorations, many made by the family’s four children throughout their lives. While most of the fire was contained in the garage, front rooms, and attic of the home, the entire house was significantly damaged by smoke and water. Their mattresses, furniture, food, and clothing is likely to be unsalvageable.

 

Saraya is a full time online college student as well as a new mother. Her graduation date is November 7th, the same day as her son Alistair’s 2nd birthday. Thankfully, it appears her laptop and the gifts purchased for her son are still intact.

 

John and Milie are long time active members of their church community, with John assisting in set up and sound and Milie a member of the choir. I feel it's paramount to explain that EVEN AFTER THE FIRE, John got his family put in a hotel and was addiment about hauling the church sound equipment for set up as he has always done. This is just an example of the type of caring, giving, and selfless people they are.

 

Your prayers are most welcomed and appreciated.

 

The family has been put up in extended-stay hotel rooms and has been humbled by the overwhelming support of their neighbors. The sense of community was swift and palpable.

 

This will be a long process for them, with their lives completely uprooted, on top of the holidays approaching. Any and all assistance and support will go a long way.