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Our Lady of Fatima parish in Delanson sprang into action with fundraisers and collections of clothing, furniture and gift cards after a fire in January destroyed the home of a family from the parish.

OLF's Knights of Columbus council organized a spaghetti dinner that raised $3,500 for the Menzies family, whose house was a "total loss" after an electrical fire.

Joshua Menzies and his wife and three daughters escaped unscathed and later found their dog and cat alive. Mr. Menzies said everyone's survival was an act of God: "I really have no reason to think otherwise."

OLF began accepting baby items, other supplies and cash for the family right away; parish life director Lynn O'Rourke appealed to the Schenectady Deanery's Works of Mercy project, which sent backpacks with clothing, books, stuffed animals and a Bible to each Menzies child. Other Delanson churches and area residents have donated about $6,000.

The Catholic community has been happy to help Mr. Menzies, who is a Knight and a member of the Growing in Faith Together (GIFT) intergenerational faith sharing group.

Mrs. O'Rourke told The Evangelist that it's important for churches to help families dealing with tragedies: "It's what God told us to do. This family lost everything. In our own little way, we're going to try to clothe the naked."

"It's been very overwhelming to say the least, the amount of response and help," Mr. Menzies said. "We really haven't even had much time to even think or grieve about it."

The family is renting a house from a friend who's in Florida; they are saving the donations they have received to help eventually rebuild their house.

Mr. Menzies said the experience has taught him to be closer to God.

"Initially, it was very hard for me to accept the help," he said. "All I know is that God's got a plan for me. I may not be able to see that plan yet, [but] as long as I have my faith, it's going to be OK."

(To help, see the Facebook page "Community Support for the Menzies Family.")[[In-content Ad]]

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