LEESBURG - Some residents in the Kosciusko County community are organizing to help a family who lost their home to a fire Monday night.
Cori Olinger said when she heard some strange noises in her Leesburg home, she didn't immediately expect it was a fire.
"I opened the garage door and there was just black smoke billowing out at me," Olinger said.
Olinger and her husband, Josh, have nine children ages 1 to 15. She said two of the children weren't at home at the time of the fire, but two nephews were there. The Olingers were able to get all of the children and even the two family dogs out of the house without injury, but the fire destroyed the house and most of the family's belongings.
"It's still not even reality yet. We're just trying to figure out where to go from here," Olinger said by phone this morning.
She was calling from her parents' house where she and her husband and their five youngest children were staying. She said her other children are staying with friends and family. She said neighbors have been helpful, moving the family's vehicle away from the house during the fire, and taking the children into their homes away from the fire.
"The whole community has been wonderful," she said.
Olinger said her children are doing well, but, six of them begin school Friday and most of their clothes were damaged or destroyed in the fire.
"We were able to save some clothes, but I was looking at them today and they're so smoke damaged, I don't know if they can be saved," Olinger said.
Julie Hursey, a teacher at Leesburg Elementary School, has taught some of the Olingers' children and said when she heard about the fire, she wanted to help.
"My husband and I went over right away," Hursey said. "They are the most loving and caring and compassionate family; we just care about them so much."
Hursey said The Church on the Rock, Warsaw, will take donations of clothing for the Olingers. Those interested in donating should contact Bobbie Crouch at 574-371-2537 or 574-306-2720. Monetary donations may also be made to the "Olingers' New Start" account at both local branches of Teachers Credit Union. To donate, call Karen Mayer at 574-269-4487, Ext. 5802.
The following is a list of clothing sizes needed for the children: Junior size 9, women's shoe 7 or 8; pants size 14 slim, 14-16 shirt, men's shoe 7; pants size 12 slim, 14 shirt, men's shoe 5-1/2; pants size 10 slim, 10-12 shirt, men's shoe 6; pants size 10 slim, 10-12 shirt, women's shoe 8-1/2; pants size 7, shoe size 3; size 4-5 toddlers clothes, toddlers shoe 10; size 3 toddlers clothes, toddlers shoe 7; 18-month-old size clothes and shoe 4.
