Humbled by generosity

Date: 4/4/2011

On Sunday, Feb. 13, there was a benefit held for our family to help us put the pieces back together after a fire at our home. We were incredibly humbled by the caring nature and generosity of this community.

We would like to thank the individuals involved with organizing the benefit: Jennifer and Andrew Dutko, Chris and Mary Beth Dowd, Cheryl Dowd and Dan Ekstrom, Joseph and Josephine Dowd, and, of course, Denardo's Pizzeria for providing the location for the event.

We would also like to express our thanks the following organizations for their kind support: the East Longmeadow Rotary Club, the East Longmeadow Firefighters Association, the East Longmeadow Jaycees, Reminder Publications, the Minnechaug Football Booster Club, St. Patrick's Church, Porter Road Pet Care, Meadowbrook School, Birchland Park Middle School, Green Meadows School, Wilbraham Middle School, Thornton Burgess School, the fourth and fifth grade Sunday school classes at Trinity United Methodist Church, the first grade CCD class at St. Patrick's Church, and the Brookside Soccer Club. We would like to thank Dennis and Patricia Donahue for opening their home to us for the couple of months that we were out of our home.

There were many, many families and individuals that have helped us out and we only wish there was enough room here to list them all.

We are grateful for the teachings in the East Longmeadow school system that prepared our daughter, Ashley, to take the necessary steps to bring our three other children and dog to safety while mom was on the phone with the 911 operator.

Our children have been shown what a great community can be and how complete strangers can extend their hands and hearts to help another. We are extremely grateful for this lesson that they have learned through this experience.

We have recently moved back into our home which would have been extremely difficult without the kindness that this community has shown us.

The Donahue Family: Dennis, Julie, Ashley, Riordan, Mackenna, Braedon and our dog Murphy

East Longmeadow