Community gathers to support little girl’s wish

ST. ANDREWS — An entire community is coming together this weekend to support a family who suffered two tragedies.

A fire burned Ana and Tony Herntier’s St. Andrews, Manitoba  home to the ground in April.

RELATED: St. Andrews couple lose home in fire year after granddaughter’s death

A year before that, the couple’s seven-year-old granddaughter Gracie Herntier-Clark, who they raised, was mauled to death by two dogs. She was with her other grandparents at a friend’s house.

Before Gracie died, she started a fundraiser for her school’s music program. She wanted her classmates in St. Andrews to have more instruments.

“She worked really hard, she got up early that morning and she put things together and $605 later we went to the school,” said Ana Herntier.

RELATED: Manitoba girl mauled to death by dogs

Her grandparents continued the sale in her memory, however the donations for this year’s sale were destroyed in the fire.

The residents in St. Andrews rallied around the couple to make sure the garage sale still took place.

“I felt like Gracie is smiling down on us and just dancing around because this is her dream,” said Ana Herntier.

Donations started pouring in and this weekend the ice surface at St. Andrews Community Club was filled with items to purchase.

“She would have been dancing and skipping… she would have said this is love,” said Tony Herntier.

Hundreds of people have already turned out to pick up some hidden treasures and to support Gracie’s wish. More than $4,000 was raised in the first few hours of the sale.

“It’s a great opportunity to continue what Gracie started… teaching our children our community about the value of giving and helping others,” said volunteer Beatrice Campbell.

The sale wraps up Saturday at 5 pm then opens again Sunday at 9 am.