Rural Bloomington family grateful for support after fire destroys home

Posted on September 17, 2018

 

fire
A family of five from rural Bloomington escaped injury early Sunday morning when a fire destroyed their home east of the Twin-Cities. Their friends are coming through to aid the family, donating thousands of dollars to help the Dearing family recover from the fire. (Pixabay)

 

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – A rural Bloomington family is learning quickly that the worst of times can bring out the best in people.

A fire early Sunday morning destroyed Brad and Jackie Dearing’s “hand built” home between Bloomington-Normal and Danvers. All five family members, their farm animals, and pets are alive and well, according to Brad Dearing on his Facebook page.

The Dearings said they ran out of the house in bare feet and in their pajamas with only a cell phone at about 1:30 Sunday morning.

Brad Dearing is also thanking friends for what he said was their “incredible” support, encouragement, and prayers.

Friends have set up a go-fund-me page to help the family. The page raised $12,195 from 180 people during the first 15 hours since it was posted.

A friend noted on Facebook that the Dearings are “awesome and so loved.” That’s why she said so many people want to help them.

The Dearings are well known in the community. They own Dearing Country Farms, three miles east of Bloomington, and they’re vendors at the Farmers’ Market in Downtown Bloomington each Saturday morning.

Link to the Dearing family gofundme page:

http://www.gofundme.com/dearing-family-needs

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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