Go to The News Item mobile
Gifts flood in for fire victims Shamokin woman, 3 daughters grateful for 'amazing' generosity
Published: December 25, 2009
Font size: [A] [A] [A]
e-mail this
share this
MIKE STAUGAITIS/Staff Photos Michelle Wolfe and daughter Liyah Ammon, 1, stand near the Christmas tree at her sister-in-law's home Christmas Eve morning among the many gifts that she and her daughters have received since their home burned Sunday night.
Employees and a student from Northwestern Academy stopped by to donate gifts to Michelle Wolfe and her three daughters at her sister-in-law's home on Birch Street in Shamokin Thursday morning. From left are Jennifer Pizzoli, Amy Albertini holding daughter Liyah Ammon, Rita Manning, student Dominic George, Angela Combs and Bob Miller.
SHAMOKIN - The overwhelming generosity and support displayed by family, friends and total strangers has turned a nightmare into a Christmas filled with plenty of presents, love and gratefulness for a mother and her three young children whose home at 104 N. Vine St. was destroyed by fire Sunday night.
"This is a Christmas story we will remember for the rest of our lives," commented 26-year-old Michelle Wolfe, who, along with her daughters, Kathryn, 6; Breanna, 5, and Liyah, 1, lost all their possessions in the blaze, which gutted their home and an adjoining vacant house.
Wolfe and her daughters are staying with her sister-in-law, Ashley Peters, of 113 Birch St., whose home is filled with Christmas presents, clothes, toys and other numerous donations the family has received since Sunday's devastating blaze.
Among the many donors who have displayed the true meaning of Christmas toward the Wolfes are 60 students and 20 staff members in the secure services unit at Northwestern Academy, who raised approximately $300 to purchase clothing and toys for the fire victims. They presented their donations to the family on Thursday morning at Peters' residence.
Ron Spangler and Stephen Jacobs, co-directors of the secure services unit, several students and other staff members organized the fund drive for the family. Joining Jacobs for the gift presentation were student Dominic George, head teacher Angela Combs, secretaries Amy Albertini and Rita Manning, clinical supervisor Jennifer Pizzoli and line staff member Bob Miller.
Jacobs said the students donated some of their Christmas money to help the fire victims.
Spangler said, "I think it's great the students came up with the idea to donate money to the family. It shows that students in this environment still care about others."
Wolfe thanked her sister-in-law and everyone else for the donations, prayers and emotional support that have been provided during the past several days, and especially praised her grandmother, Kathryn Schicatano, for her generosity and love.
"My grandmother has been everything to me since my mother (Kathryn Wolfe) died in 1996," Wolfe said.
She added, "We are so grateful for everything we have received. It's awesome, overwhelming and amazing. No other words can describe the generosity people in this community have shown us. I get choked up every time I realize how much people care when you go through something like this.
"I never expected this type of response," she continued. "I've been near tears everyday."
She said people have brought gifts, food, clothing, bath products and gifts cards.
"Everyone has rallied around us to make sure the kids have a great holiday. This makes you feel the true meaning of Christmas," she said.
Be the first to comment on this article!