Hailey Waldo
Reporter@greenepublishing.com
The Thomas family is leaning on faith, family and community support after a devastating house fire destroyed their longtime family home late Friday. According to Yvonne Thomas, the fire was caused by a dryer and quickly spread through the residence. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the family lost their home, vehicle and many treasured belongings in the blaze.
“Our home was built by my husband’s grandfather and was the home that my mother-in-law grew up in,” said Thomas. “So the home itself was very special to our family. We’ll forever cherish the memories that were made there.”
Thomas stated that she had been asleep when the fire began. Her husband, Edwin, attempted to hold back the flames while their daughters woke her and helped get everyone outside safely. “He continued to try after the girls and I were out of the house, but the fire became unbearable,” Yvonne said.
In a statement shared through the family’s GoFundMe page, Edwin Thomas described the heartbreak the family is facing. “I’m 46 years old and have a wife and four children,” Thomas wrote. “Late Friday night, we lost everything in a house fire. It was not just a home but the house my grandfather built. It was an old house, but some upgrades were done in the interior; it still had that genuine feel of his hard work.” Thomas also shared that the family vehicle was destroyed in the fire, along with a life time of memories.
The tragedy comes during an emotional time for the family. Their eldest daughter recently graduated from college and had just moved back home, while their youngest son graduated earlier this week. “That being said, we need help to recover,” Thomas wrote. “Anything you can donate will be greatly appreciated. Please keep my family and me in your prayers.”
Now displaced and staying with relatives, the family is asking for assistance from the community as they begin the difficult process of rebuilding their lives. “At this time, we need clothes and toiletries until we figure out housing, then we’ll need everything else,” Yvonne Thomas said. “My family and I are taking one day at a time. Emotions are raw and some days are harder than others.”
Physical donations for the family are being accepted at the Greene Publishing Office at 1965 S CR-53, in Madison.
Monetary donations may also be sent through Zelle to Yvonne Thomas at (850) 841-0211 or through CashApp at $mamajanine. Community members may also contribute through the family’s GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/u/edwin-thomas.
The family’s current clothing and shoe sizes are listed below for those wishing to donate specific items.
Edwin: Shirts 4XL, pants 48W x 30L, shoe size 12 or 12.5
Janine: Shirts 2X/3X or size 22/44, pants 22/24 petite or short, bra size 44 DDD, shoe size 8.5 or 9 wide.
Corey: Shirts 2XL, pants 40W x 30L, shoe size 10.5, sweatpants/joggers 2X
Paris: Shirts 2X/3X, pants size 22W, leggings/sweatpants 2X/3X, bra size 42 DD, shoe size 8.5 or 9 wide.
Crystal: Shirts 2X, pants 20/22W, leggings/sweatpants 2X, sports bra 3X/4X, shoe size 9/10 mens
Caleb: Shirts 2X, pants 44W x 40L, sweatpants/joggers 2X/3X, shoe size 11.
The Thomas family expressed heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of love and support already shown by the community during this difficult time. Community members are encouraged to support in anyway they can.