Donations, fundraisers sought for family that lost two children in South Union fire
Alyssa Choiniere | Herald-Standard
This file photo shows an impromptu memorial on the steps of a South Union Township home where a brother and sister died after they were trapped in their bedroom by fire on Jan 8. Bouquets of flowers were laid across the home’s porch, along with balloons. Toys in pairs of two were on the steps.
Submitted photo
RyLeigh Weasenforth, 7, (at left) and her brother, Gunner Weasenforth, 5, were killed in an early morning fire in their South Union Township home on Jan. 8.
www.gofundme.com/f/young-innocent-lives-lost-in-early-morning-fire
Help is being sought for the parents who lost two children in a Jan. 8 house fire in South Union Township so that they may begin to put their lives back together after the tragedy.
Rob Chuey, the 24th District American Legion Deputy District Commander and retired Army officer, didn’t know DeAnna and Michael Weasenforth before the deaths of their children, RyLeigh, 7, and Gunner, 5. He attended their funeral as a representative of the American Legion, calling it one of the saddest he’d ever been to, and felt compelled to help.
After talking to nearly two dozen real estate agents, Chuey said he found one willing to work with the family to find a new house and waive the commission on the sale of the home.
Now, said Chuey, he’s hoping the community who so generously supported the Weasenforths with donations on a GoFundMe page will help them raise the remaining $25,000 they need to purchase their new home.
“I hate to see good people suffer,” he said.
RyLeigh and Gunner Weasenforth became trapped in the family’s South Mount Vernon Avenue Extension home when a fire started right outside their bedroom around 5:30 a.m.
Moments later, family members were on the porch screaming for the children, suffering burns in attempts to rescue them. Soon the porch was packed with firefighters, also attempting to save the children who were trapped out of reach. The family’s dog also died in the fire.
Chuey said the home that was found for the family is an existing modular home along Route 21 that costs $53,000.
“Bad news, we’re still short of money,” Chuey said, adding the family has approximately $20,000 in an account after expenses from over $49,000 raised on a GoFundMe page. “They need another $25,000.”
Since the fire that devastated their lives, Chuey said the family has been staying in a Uniontown hotel paid for by Joe Hardy, founder of 84 Lumber Co. They will remain there until Feb. 21, but when they leave – hopefully to a new home – he said they will start over with nothing.
“They’re in need for everything except a microwave and a toaster, which I bought for them,” Chuey said.
Chuey said the family needs either monetary donations or help in terms of donations and/or volunteers to hold a fundraiser for them.
“Bottom line, they’re not looking for a handout. They’re looking for a hand up,” Chuey said. “Any help we can get will be greatly appreciated; we’re so close.”
Anyone interested in helping the family can contact Chuey via e-mail at chueyd@yahoo.com. Anyone interested in donating to the family’s GoFundMe page can visit www.gofundme.com/f/young-innocent-lives-lost-in-early-morning-fire.