Ford County Rallies with Heartfelt Support for Fire Victims

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FORD COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — The spirit of solidarity is shining brightly as Ford County residents unite to aid those affected by not one, but two devastating house fires.

On Thanksgiving Day, a turkey fryer ignited a garage in Paxton, and just a few nights later, a fierce blaze ravaged a home in Elliott.

“Ford County is home to many compassionate individuals,” remarked Terry Whitebird, Coordinator of Ford County’s Emergency Management Agency.

Indeed, Whitebird’s observation holds true. Even amidst the smoke and embers, the community is coming together to offer support to their neighbors in distress.

“With [the fire] in the neighborhood, the other close neighbor, you know, she had them bundled up, but I kept grabbing blankets just to help them,” Dawn Mertes, A Picket Fence Florist’s owner, said.

She was talking about two children who lived in the house in Paxton that caught on fire on Thanksgiving. Whitebird has also been working with the family.

“The donations that they’ve received so far has been overwhelming for them,” he added.

However, they’re not the only ones who got immediate support.

“A friend of mine, replaced her sister’s walker that was melted during the fire,” Whitebird shared about the victim in the Elliott fire.

He was also working with that family who lost their home because of a chimney flue fire. Whitebird added that they’re in need of food and women’s clothing.

“County Market in Gibson City, and there’s a drop site over there,” he added.

For the family in Paxton, the fire on Thursday wasn’t their only concern. They also have a baby in the NICU and they’ve been placed in a hotel in Champaign to be closer to the hospital. It’s also why helping their family with travel costs is so necessary.

“With the baby in the NICU, and with them making it back and forth, the gas cards help immensely,” Mertes said.

The physical donations paint a bigger picture about how when tragedy strikes, the community steps up.

“It shows the families involved that people really care and have concern for your safety and your well-being,” Whitebird shared.

Other donation suggestions for the Paxton family include clothing in sizes 4T, 7 and 8. The family is also in need of adult medium and large-sized clothing. You can drop those off, as well as any other donations for the Paxton family, at A Picket Fence Florist in Paxton.