A Chatham-Kent woman is praising the community for helping her and her family in their time of need.
Alecia Durocher's home located on Mull Rd., near Blenheim went up in flames January 6. The fire destroyed most of her and her family's possessions, leaving them with just the clothes they were wearing.
Overwhelmed by the situation, Durocher and her husband had suffered major panic attacks and were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
After leaving the ER, Durocher headed back to her restaurant Comfort and Soul, where there was a surprise waiting.
"There were already people here with donations of clothing and shoes," says Durocher. "It's just been remarkable."
She says donations have ranged from household appliances to toiletries, all of which help.
However, she is asking for people to hang on to their donations for now. Durocher and her husband are staying at a hotel in Chatham so they don't have a lot of space to put their donated items.
Despite losing so much, Durocher says she's thankful no one was hurt in the fire, including their cat.
"My daughter and my grand-baby had been at home earlier that morning," she says. "I'm just so thankful that if this had to happen, nobody was home -- the thought of losing those girls... I couldn't deal with it."
Durocher adds she's amazed with the support locals have shown her and her family.
"I'll never let someone speak negatively of the people of [Chatham-Kent]," she says. "I will tell them that this is one of the greatest communities I've ever seen."