LURAY, Va. — A local woman and her four grandchildren recently lost their home to fire, and community members are rallying to help them recover.
According to a media statement from the Luray Fire Department, the incident occurred Saturday, October 24.
Crews were dispatched around 10 p.m.
Engine 12 responded within two minutes, followed by two tankers.
Firefighters arrived to find flames coming from the front porch of a single-story home and beginning to spread inside.
LURAY FIRE DEPARTMENT VIDEO:
Crews used two hose lines to extinguish the fire in mere minutes.
Firefighters remained at the scene for about three hours to extinguish hot spots and check for remaining fire hazards.
No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire was noted as “unknown.”
By the next day, an official GoFundMe was created for the victims — Barbara Veney and her grandchildren.
GoFundMe text:
Barbara Veney has always been the one others could count on.
She has spent her life caring for family, opening her home to anyone who needed love, support, or a safe place to stay. Last night, everything changed when Barbara’s home caught fire and was destroyed.
Everyone had gone to bed shortly after 9 PM when Barbara got up to fix something to eat. When she opened the front door, she found the porch engulfed in flames, and the fire was spreading quickly toward the house.
By the grace of God, Barbara was able to get out safely with the four grandchildren she is raising full-time before they lost everything.
Barbara is now facing the heartbreaking reality of starting over after this devastating fire.
The funds raised will help with temporary housing, clothing, furniture, and everyday necessities for Barbara and the children as they begin to rebuild their lives.
Any support would mean so much to this family during such a painful and overwhelming time.
If donating is not possible, please consider sharing this fundraiser with others.
The family is deeply grateful for every act of kindness, every prayer, and every bit of support shown to Barbara Veney and the children in her care.
— Brittany Smithers
FIRE AFTERMATH VIDEO:
A Facebook post from Brittany Housden-Smithers read:
PLEASE HELP A LURAY FAMILY WHO LOST EVERYTHING IN A HOUSE FIRE
I’m reaching out to the Page Valley community today in hopes that we can come together to help someone who means the absolute world to me, my grandmother, Barbara Veney, a longtime resident of Luray, Virginia.
Late Saturday night, my grandmother’s home was destroyed by a devastating fire.
My grandmother has full custody of four of her grandchildren, whom she is raising on her own.
Thankfully, everyone made it out safely, but the children escaped just in time. Unfortunately, they lost absolutely everything. Nothing from the home could be salvaged.
My grandmother has been a widow for over 20 years, and instead of focusing solely on herself, she has dedicated her life to raising her grandchildren and caring for others.
Over the years, she has opened her doors to so many people who needed a place to call home. She’s the type of woman who would give someone her last dollar without thinking twice.
This wasn’t just a house. It was the home I grew up in. The place where we gathered for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners every year, celebrated birthdays, and made countless memories as a family. It was the one place we could always count on bringing everyone together.
To see it gone is absolutely heartbreaking.
Right now, my grandmother and the children are starting over with nothing.
They are in immediate need of clothing, shoes, food, and everyday necessities.
Our biggest priority is making sure they have what they need to get through the coming days and helping the children return to school.
I’m asking our community to please come together and help this family in any way possible.
No donation is too small, and every dollar will make a difference.
— Brittany Smithers
A few days later, Housden-Smithers posted a message of gratitude, and an update on behalf of the family.
AN UPDATE ON MY GRANDMOTHER & A HEARTFELT THANK YOU
First, I want to sincerely thank everyone who has donated, shared our GoFundMe, reached out, or offered a helping hand.
The love and support our family has received over the past couple of days has truly meant more than words can express.
We are beyond grateful.
I also wanted to share a little update with everyone.
Thankfully, my grandmother did have homeowner’s insurance.
However, we have learned that the amount of coverage she has is nowhere near enough to replace the manufactured home she lost in the fire.
My grandmother has had the same insurance policy in place since 1999, without any changes to her coverage.
She comes from a generation where things like this weren’t always explained or fully understood.
She’s also a widow who has spent so much of her life taking care of everyone else, and unfortunately, this is just something she never realized needed to be revisited.
At this point, we’re not looking to place blame or dwell on what could have been done differently.
Our only focus is helping my grandmother get another home so she can continue providing a safe and stable place for the four grandchildren she is raising.
While we’re incredibly thankful that she had some insurance coverage, the reality is that there is still a significant financial gap between what insurance will provide and what it will cost to replace her home.
So, we are continuing to ask for the community’s help.
I know times are hard for so many people right now, and I completely understand that not everyone is in a position to donate.
Every donation, every share, and every kind word brings us one step closer to getting my grandmother and these babies back into a home of their own.
For those who would prefer to help by purchasing everyday essentials, we’ve created an Amazon Gift Registry with items my grandmother and the children need as they begin rebuilding their lives.
The shipping address is already set up through the registry, so you can purchase an item and have it shipped directly to them. There’s no need to coordinate pickup or delivery.
CLOTHING SIZES NEEDED:
Jayden: Adult XL – shirts and pants
Maddie: Adult Medium – shirts and pants
Hallie: Girls 10/12 pants, 7/8 or Medium shirts
Mason: Adult Small – shirts and pants
Barbara (Grandmother): Adult Large
DONATION LINKS
GoFundMe – Help Grandma Barbara Rebuild Her Home
Amazon Gift Registry – Help Grandma Barbara & Her Grandchildren Rebuild
For other ways to donate (cash, check, non-perishable food items, healthcare items), contact editor@shenvalleytimes.com to get in touch with the family.