Fire destroyed the Loucks Rutherglen home last Saturday. The family didn't have insurance but they have community support. PHOTO SUBMITTED.
The small community of Rutherglen is coming together for the Loucks family.
The elderly couple lost their home, located along the Highway 17 corridor, in a fire on Saturday afternoon.
The home was completely destroyed and the family had no fire insurance.
Caren Gagne, owner of Gagne’s Home Hardware and Esso, is trying to help the couple which is now living in a small house next to their main residence which is a small uninsulated building next to the residence where they kept their dogs.
The Loucks family breeds huskies and have 40 dogs now living with them in the small residence which was also damaged in the blaze.
Gagne is offering her help and taking in donations at their store on Highway 17.
“They have a puppy farm and all of them are in a small house with no running water,” Gagne told BayToday.ca on Tuesday morning.
“They need towels, blankets and water, and the home needs a water line installed,” she added.
Gagne adds that the local Anglican Church has already offered to make a financial contribution to help repair the damaged wall of the small residence.
There will also be a Pot Luck benefit dinner on February 6th at the LahTea Da Cafe and Tea House in Bonfield.
Gagne says the Loucks’ also need dog food and dog shelters which can be dropped off as well at their store.
“It brings people together, people are already dropping off things at the Gagne’s Home Hardware and Esso and people have been really good,” she said about the community support.
Anyone interested in donating is asked to contact Caren Gagne at (705) 776-9705.
Lakeview Rona and Rona McGaughey have started a fundraising campaign for the family who lost the majority of their possessions in that fire.
The two businesses are accepting cash donations, clothes and food at their Memorial Drive and McGaughey locations.
