Fundraiser for Family Affected by Fire to be Held at Gio's in East Granby

Friends are are rallying behind a South Windsor family that had its house gutted by a fire on Wednesday.

Christopher and Heather Gness, along with their infant daughter, were not home at the time of the blaze, but one of the family’s two dogs - a chocolate labrador named Moose - perished.

A second dog - a border collie named Bree - was severely injured and was taken to a veterinary hospital in Bolton.

While South Windsor firefighters were able to get the fire under control in less than a half an hour, the entire ground floor level is gutted and the second floor sustained heavy smoke damage, according to Cindy Jackson, a friend of the family who lives nearby.

“The back [of the house] is completely melted,” Jackson said.

To make matters worse, Heather Gness’s mother died on Monday, Jackson said.

“They say bad things happen in threes,” Jackson said in a telephone interview Friday evening. “This is their three.”

Jackson said that an outpouring of support from the community started immediately.

“People in the neighborhood were offering donations while [the Gnesses] were still outside their house,” Jackson said. “People were opening their wallets and handing money to them.”

In addition, people - complete strangers, according to Jackson - also donated food, clothes for the baby, formula, wipes, clothes for them and toiletries.

“They are completely overwhelmed by the support they are getting everywhere,” Jackson said. “They are beyond grateful for what the community has done for them. They are at a complete loss for words. They knew people would step up and help, but they never thought it would go to the extent it has.”

The Gnesses are currently staying at a nearby motel and are running out of room with all of the things coming in. But they still need money to cover the veterinary bills for Bree - which could run into the thousands of dollars - and cash and gift cards for other needs.

A PayPal account has been set up for the Gnesses as well as an individual account to help with Bree’s veterinary bills. Anyone wishing to donate to either account may e-mail Jackson at jackson721@gmail.com, and she will send a link.