Terry Kruger
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 24/00) - An outpouring of support is helping a Yellowknife family rebuild after a devastating fire.

Kevin Stannard and Leslie Suchlandt and their sons, Jeremy, 3, and Justin, 1, are "overwhelmed" with the volume of donations from the community.

"It has been unbelievable," said Suchlandt of the generosity shown by friends, neighbours and strangers since the March 11 fire that gutted the interior of their rented double-wide mobile home on Knutsen Avenue. All their belongings, except some precious photographs saved by firefighters, were destroyed in the fire.

With no insurance on their belongings, Stannard and Suchlandt were faced with the prospect of starting from scratch after being together for six-and-a-half years. That's being made easier by the fact people have donated almost everything they need to get back on their feet. They are now staying with Suchlandt's parents.

"We were home for all of 15 minutes and a lady showed up with a big bag of clothes," said Suchlandt.

"It makes it easier. We've accepted that everything is gone. We're doing OK."

Cordi Yaceyko, who has helped organize the relief effort, was also in awe of the response.

"It's overwhelming. It's been great," said Yaceyko, who worked with Stannard for six years.

"Their spirits are picking up," she explained. "Initially, they were very down, but they've received a lot of support from the community."

Noteworthy, said Yaceyko are calls from other people who have lived through devastating house fires, who want to lend their emotional support to the family. That support has also included cash donations from the Elks and Lions Clubs, that when combined with contributions made to collection jars around town add up to about $3,200.

As well, businesses have donated gift certificates and Northwest Transport has donated use of a transport trailer to store all the donated goods.

A thankful Yaceyko said the family has as much clothing and furniture as they need, but more cash would help them purchase the incidental items a family requires. She hopes that more donations will increase the cash total to $4,000 by Friday.

There's so much that Suchlandt "hasn't been able to look through everything."

Suchlandt said their two children are coping well with the disaster, although Jeremy was hurt that his favourite toys were destroyed.

"He was a little upset at that."

Suchlandt, pregnant with their third child, is also upset that her efforts to set up a room for the new baby, due in May, went up in flames.

"It was poor timing," she said philosophically.

The family is now searching for a new home.