A fundraiser is being started to help a Chatham-Kent family who had most of their belongings destroyed in a house fire.
Mary Tillotson and her three kids lost their home in Tilbury last Wednesday.
CK Firefighters were able to save their cats, however, their five sugar gliders passed away.
"They loved them very much, they were raised as babies... losing them was very devastating," said AnnMarie McLeod, who's starting the fundraiser in support of the family.
She told CK News Today she's hoping to raise around $5,000 to help them find a new place to stay.
"Right now, they're living in a home with 10 people, and it's a very small home," McLeod added.
Along with rent, she's hoping to help them buy new furniture, clothes, and food.
So far, McLeod has collected $100. She had asked for donations through PayPal and e-transfers shortly after learning about the fire but didn't receive any. She believes this is because people may be nervous about scammers, so she decided to start a GoFundMe.
People can still donate using PayPal by using the email annmariemcleod6670@gmail.com and e-transfer with the email annmarietrepanier35@gmail.com.
Meanwhile, people in the Tilbury area who get help from the community's Pet Pantry will have to drive to Chatham for the foreseeable future.
Since September, people in different CK communities have been handed out free pet food that's been donated by the non-profit Barks and Meows Rescue.
Tillotson was the person handing out donations in Tilbury. This is how she and McLeod know each other. McLeod oversees all of the municipality's Pet Pantry's.
"It is a loss for us, but we will be hopefully getting somebody new who's willing to step up and give us a hand," added McLeod.
In the past six months, around 1,000 families have received pet food from one of the municipality's pantry's. Those in need of help can message the Chatham-Kent Pet Pantry on Facebook.