Thanksgiving-more than turkey

[Speedy]

As fisherman you know how it is when you start to bite that sandwich and both lines snap tight, side-tracked, but still thankful you had activity.

Well a few weeks ago I received a phone call telling me about two families that were in need of help; (I am a retired Catholic Deacon). One family, with two children, just suffered a house fire in Barton, (near Crystal Lake). Kids were in school and the wife was with her husband at the dentist office several miles away. Story goes…his cell phone rang while he was in the chair, caller, screaming “There is smoke pouring out of your house.” He said “I’m on my way…and did you call the fire department?” “Oh?? I’ll call them now.!” Seems they had 7 dogs, guessing one of them reached up on the gas stove and hit the knob, self-ignition type, lit high, pot holder/towel then up the wall and into the ceiling. Fire department came ASAP and did their work. Chopped several holes in the roof, knocked out the windows and flooded every room and everything in it. 100% of clothes was either burnt or smoke/water damaged. He is a handyman by trade, and his equipped storage tool shed was destroyed. No one was hurt but they lost all 7 dogs. I am the Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus and requested/granted a $500. Gift Card from Wal-Mart, so they could go and replace some of their clothes. Another special program, “Coats for Kids”, gave the new winter coats. Power company disconnected the electricity and wouldn’t even provide a contractor’s service pole/meter to allow him to start rebuilding. Insurance company was quick to reject his claim as “Negligence”; requiring him to hire a Lawyer and start the long process. I went thru my spare tools and filled a few boxes with power saws, drills, levels, boxes of sheet-rock screw/mud and paper tape, few gallons of white paint, and my gas generator from my old race car trailer with several extension cords and misc. stuff. My wife makes quilts and pulled several new and filled boxes with kitchen cookware, silverware, glasses, etc. We met them and loaded their SUV and pickup,they were extremely Thankful. Last was a complete Turkey dinner Plus, plus back-up. They are now staying with friends.

Second family of 6 was in North Troy. Husband is permanently disabled from working in VT Corrections Dept. , Food Stamps ran out due to government shut-down. They were forced to find new housing due to previous landlord selling the house from under them. Not much for rentals, so they were forced to rent two apartments, next to each other but not connected; Thus double rent, and utilities. Seems North Troy and several locations have an “Occupancy Restriction limits”, ending with one parent and two kids in each. As a retired Real Estate Broker, this makes me nuts; but can’t fight City Hall over night. So again I obtained a Gift Certificate from Wal-Mart, to re-stock their food supply. My wife and I went thru all our “Little Girl Stuff” that we had stored, from our 3 girls; so nice dolls and games and again new quilts and coats, and full Thanksgiving dinner. Again Thankful!
Lesson learned…Thanksgiving is more than Turkey.
“Tight Lines”
Speedy Bob and wife Lynne

[Gecha (Gerry)]

Very nice gesture Bob & Lynne.
Thanks for all the help and support you provided to those families.

[Reelax]

Truly a thanks. giving! Great story’s

[TUnamas]

Speedy- Thank you! You are doing great work and I'm grateful that you shared this!