WATCH ABOVE: More than 100 bags of donations have been collected in hopes of bringing a little happiness back to the family’s holidays. Tracy Nagai reports.
CALGARY – They asked for help and people have stepped up.
A day after a fire left a family homeless, the community of Airdrie let them know, they’re not alone.
READ MORE: Airdrie home destroyed in Boxing Day fire
The fire started around 9 a.m. Saturday in the garage. Fortunately, the family of five made it out safely but the home was destroyed.
“It’s heartbreaking. I mean not only at this time of year but any time of year, right? I mean this is a family of five that has lost everything and so it’s heartbreaking,” said Yolanda Wolters.
More than 100 bags of donations have been collected in hopes of bringing a little happiness back to the family’s holidays.
All weekend, bags of clothes and other donations have filled an Airdrie home. The generosity of area residents is clear to see.
“I started getting them within 10 minutes of posting on Facebook requesting help, so I mean we were inundated, every time I opened the door there was more stuff on my porch,” said Wolters, a neighbour collecting donations for the family.
One hundred and fifty bags full of donations; all for the Unrau’s family left homeless by a fire that happened on Boxing Day.
Wolter’s home isn’t the only place the Unraus family is receiving support.
On Sunday, the Harvest Bible Chapel brought the family up front during worship to pray.
A fundraising site has also been started for the family.
“Everybody can relate to hardship at this time of year in regards to it’s Christmastime and people have just had a time with family and presents and then to have something so tragic happen….people are just like ‘how can we help’?” said pastor Trevor Peacock, from the Harvest Bible Chapel.
There seems to be no shortage of help.
While they’re still waiting on their insurance company, the family has secured a place to stay and are just thankful they’re all together.
“As hard as it is to see everything literally going up in smoke, that they have their family, everyone is safe and sound and you know, things come and go but you can’t replace a life,” said pastor Peacock.
And the generosity won’t be wasted. Whatever is leftover from the donations will be passed on to help others in need.
“I’ve seen this community come together for many different families in need in the past, and it just doesn’t surprise me at all.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Two adjacent homes were also damaged but firefighters were able to keep the flames from spreading.
WATCH BELOW: Raw video of fire fighters extinguishing house
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