Alicia Koch continues to be amazed with the support shown by the community ever since her family’s home was destroyed by a fire earlier this month.
A fire ripped through the Koch family’s trailer in the Willow Park Greens Trailer Park on July 6. While Alicia and her children were able to escape the fire – her husband Ryan was away when the fire struck – they lost most of their possessions.
Also, a bearded dragon reptile that she owned for more than eight years and two baby lizards died in the fire, and their cat hasn’t been seen since the blaze.
Fundraisers have been taking place since the night of the fire. The Southern Plains Co-op hosted a barbecue for the family at its location on Fourth Street on Thursday, and The Flats Eatery and the local Scouts troupe held a steak barbecue the following day. Alicia’s husband is a leader with the local Scouts.
Proceeds from Mr. Mike’s Steakhouse Casual’s most recent Gratitude Tuesday were directed to the family.
A GoFundMe page that was started the day after the fire by their friend Shelley Porath has raised $2,385 thus far. The goal was initially $2,000, but was bumped up to $5,000 after the strong initial support.
Some of the support has come from family and friends, but they have also received the backing of complete strangers.
“We’ve had people, one after another, messaging us on Facebook, saying ‘We don’t know you, but we have stuff that we would love to donate to you,’” said Alicia. “For some people it’s furniture. We’ve had truckloads of clothing for the kids coming through.”
Living Hope Community Church furnished the family in its temporary home, and St. Paul’s United Church gave them clothing and lamps.
Alicia works for Coca-Cola, and she has been supplied with kitchen supplies such as pots and pans, while her husband’s company, Aldon Oils, has donated gift cards to purchase some new furnishings.
The couple had insurance, but they still need financial support until the insurance kicks in.
Friends have joined her during daily searches for the family’s beloved cat.
“We’re still staying positive that one day we’ll find him, and I keep looking every day, going down and looking for him and calling him, and trying to make sure that he knows we’re still here,” she said.
The temporary home where the family is staying has been great, too. A man the family didn’t know messaged her on Facebook and offered a home for them for a few months until they get settled again. There are enough bedrooms for the family of four, and they’re living comfortably.
“He doesn’t want the recognition, so I won’t be telling anybody where we are, but he’s been amazing,” she said.
Alicia has been living in Estevan for nearly a decade. During that time, her time has been divided between work, raising a family and volunteering in the community.
“I’ve never been able to see this side of the city, and it’s been quite amazing,” she said.
It’s been very humbling to receive this kind of support.
“I never thought I’d live in a community that takes cares of their own as well as we’ve been taken care of,” Alicia said.
Their home was a total loss, but some items stored in a filing cabinet did survive.
“In the middle of our files, we actually salvaged our marriage certificate, not even touched (by the flames). The children’s birth certificates had a little bit of burns on them, but they were OK. Ryan was able to find his wedding band and his wedding cufflinks.
“I found the kids’ baby blankets that my grandmother made them. I found our wedding blankets that his grandmother made for us.”
The family’s Bible had its cover destroyed, but can be salvaged and re-bound. And their wedding book can also be restored.
The family has had tough times in the last few weeks, particularly due to the loss of their pets, but the community support has kept them from feeling sad.
They haven’t decided where they will be living next, and she is looking forward to when the family can be in their new home, and have a sense of normalcy return to their lives.
