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Over 500 donors have contributed more than $57,000 to help a West Sayville family rebuild their lives after a devastating fire destroyed their West Sayville home a week ago.
Michelle and DJ Smalley, who have called West Sayville home for over two decades, lived in the Colony Drive house with their three children: Connor, and Jack, who are in college, and Lauren, a Sayville High School senior headed to college next fall.
The Dec. 13 blaze began as a vehicle fire in the driveway in front of home’s garage and quickly spread to the house. Despite rapid response from the West Sayville Fire Department and several other fire departments, the family lost their home and all of their possessions.
Patricia Carroll, who organized the GoFundMe campaign, described the Smalleys as a family “always there for anyone who needs anything.”
The fundraising effort, launched shortly after the fire, has drawn an outpouring of support from the community, with 533 donors contributing $57,400 as of 12:30 p.m. on Friday. The funds are helping the family begin to rebuild after losing their home and possessions amid the holiday season.
“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness shown to the Smalley family during this heartbreaking time,” Carroll shared in a recent update.
‘Thankful’
Michelle Smalley expressed her gratitude to the community in a heartfelt Facebook post.
“As a family, we are thankful to be together and unbelievably grateful at the outpouring of love and kindness,” she wrote.
Top photos: Facebook
