Small Town News
Fundraiser set for family victimized by fire
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CopyOn July 29, the lives of the Torres family changed forever.
The family of nine woke in the middle of the night to discover their home in downtown Kyle on Lockhart Street engulfed in fire.
The fire spread quickly as they struggled to escape through the thick smoke blanketing the house, and by the time firefighters arrived on the scene at 1:30 a.m., little could be done to save the home or its contents.
Family patriarch Mario Torres had the only injuries of the night, suffering smoke inhalation followed by a heart attack Though the family was grateful that they all made it out of the inferno alive, the loss of all of their possessions was devastating.
Though the family had insurance, the policy only covered the cost of paying off the mortgage and will not be enough to rebuild, said Lupe Torres, Mario's brother.
The community immediately responded with donations of furniture, appliances, clothes and other household goods.
The family is living in a rental house in Kyle and hopes to begin rebuilding on their old lot in November.
"It was a shock for them but they're getting back on their two feet," Lupe Torres said.
To help put money in the rebuilding fund, members from the Comal-Hays County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans are hosting a fundraiser this Saturday, October 17, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Katherine Anne Porter House at 508 Center Street in Kyle.
Mary Canova Fleming, an Italian chef, will cook a spaghetti dinner for the fundraiser. Plates will be available for either dining in or take-out. Tickets are $7 and are available at the Old Town Gift Emporium, the Texas Pie Company, and other businesses in downtown Kyle. For information about tickets or to donate to the Torres Family, call Adell Hurst at 268-1631.
Thriven Financial Lutheran provided a $1,000 donation to the event. ample of the real difference we're making in people's lives," said Hurst, a fundraiser organizer and member of the Comal-Hays County Chapter of Thrivent Financial.
Copyright 2009 The Free Press, Buda, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.
© 2009 The Free Press Buda, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.
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