A family of seven who lost their home in the Black Summer bushfires have once again been struck by tragedy, losing a further building on their property to fire late last week.
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Sapphire Community Pantry has supported the family through both last year's bushfire recovery and this recent event.
According to pantry founder Christine Welsh a 15-year-old boy was home at the time, doing his laundry in the main building, a shed.
"He looked over to the cabin where he lived, one of the buildings that survived last year's fires. Fire had struck again," Ms Welsh said.
"He rang 000 but lost most of his possessions other than the clothes he was washing and a few things located elsewhere."
Ms Welsh said, as expected, the family were still overwhelmed by events but there had been a "wonderful quick reaction" to the loss.
"The community support has been fantastic, people have offered both goods and money," she said.
Sapphire Community Pantry met with the mother and her 15-year-old son on the weekend and were able to provide the family with gift cards for Big W to assist with buying new clothing.
The Social Justice Advocates Of The Sapphire Coast located a caravan, previously used for bushfire relief, and delivered it to the family on Sunday, in order to provide temporary accommodation until the cabin can be rebuilt.
"It's been a great confluence of things, once we all put all our heads together. I want to thank the people who support the Sapphire Community Pantry with their donations and kind words," Ms Welsh said.
Caroline Odgers, regional manager for GIVIT, said the family were only just getting heads in the right place to rebuild when the recent fire occurred.
"GIVIT provides a platform to assist people in genuine need, offering a private and dignified way of getting support," Ms Odgers said.
"The immediate need of this particular family is gift cards to purchase items which will replace their personal belongings.
"The bushfires caused psychological harm to this teenage boy in particular and he had been donated some fitness equipment, which was helping him to keep his body and mind healthy, all of which was lost.
"Mental health is so important and this equipment was helping him heal after a number of tragic events in the last year," she said.
A list of items sought to replace those lost can be found on the GIVIT site by searching items needed by Bega location - not only requests for this particular family, but others in the Bega Valley as well.
You can also support Sapphire Community Projects via donation or by helping to replenish its supply of emergency gift cards, which can be dropped off at the Sapphire Community Pantry from Tuesdays to Fridays. Every donation received goes back to the community.
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Leah Szanto
Twice weekly
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