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Outstanding support for Blankman family

“There’s no shortage of support in this town if you need it,” said Maggie.
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Through the help of family and friends, Mike and Maggie Blankman were able to find a rental house by the new year. They look forward to spring when they can start the reconstruction of their home which was destroyed in a fire, Christmas Eve. Phil McLachlan/The Free Press

On Christmas Eve, the Blankman family lost their home to a fire. What followed in the past two months has been a steady flow of community support, which continues to amaze them.

Maggie and Mike could not think of a single day since the disaster when there hasn’t been some form of support given to them.

In the new year, Maggie, Mike, their son Caleb and their dog Koda moved into a rental home. Although they have been here almost two months, it still doesn’t feel like home, however, the shock of losing their home is slowing starting to ease.

Since the disaster, the family’s perspective on life has changed. They find themselves constantly realizing that little things that may have bothered them in the past, don’t anymore. They’re just grateful to be alive, healthy, and together.

The Blankman’s have also come to realize that no matter how many physical items they lost in the fire, nothing can take away the years of memories they created together in that home.

Despite not having a dishwasher now, the family even loves spending time washing dishes together.

“I feel like this brought us closer,” said Maggie, looking over at her husband.

“I think so too,” Mike replied.

Over 200 family members, friends, and strangers attended the Blankman Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser, despite a large snowstorm that hit Fernie that night. The Blankman’s stood at the door, greeting people and thanking them for coming with handshakes and hugs. They recognized many faces, but also saw some unfamiliar ones. Even their family dentist came.

After dinner, a silent auction and a 50-50 raffle, everyone collectively helped clean up the Community Centre. It was, yet again, a fine display of what community is all about.

The winner of the 50-50, which totaled over $1000, donated their portion back to the family.

An online silent auction also raised close to $7000 for the family, through selfless donations by local businesses.

The community outreach to the Blankman’s has not stopped. Over a month after the disaster, Maggie got a call to come down to work because a stranger had dropped off a package.

“This is how small-knit of a community we are,” said Maggie. “Somebody knew me from the liquor store, I’ve been there 18 years. They made two great big giant homemade meat pies, and a giant bottle of wine, and got my coworkers to phone me to come pick it up.

“I open the card, and it said, ‘Enjoy dinner tonight, on us.’ It was amazing,” she said.

The family who provided the dinner said to Maggie later on the phone that they knew her through a mutual friend, and they wanted to help out.

Many times, when the Blankman’s have been out eating dinner, they request the bill to find out that it’s already been paid.

A young family who heard of their story offered to take the Blankman’s on a shopping spree in the city, to buy whatever they needed. The young family, new to Fernie, had never met the Blankman’s before. Their families met at the Spaghetti Dinner and the young couple shared a story about losing their home to a flood.

“There’s no shortage of support in this town if you need it,” said Maggie. “It’s hard to be down in this community.”

The Blankman’s will not be renting forever. They plan on rebuilding their home, on the same property as before, located in West Fernie. Come spring, when the warmer weather rolls around, they will tear down and restart.

“This is home,” said Maggie.

Maggie and Mike, as well as their entire family, would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported them through this tough time.

Losing their home has been one of the toughest things Maggie and Mike have had to go through together. But recently, they got an even bigger reality check. A close friend, of similar age to Mike, is dying of terminal cancer.

They said that something as tragic as losing their home, pales in comparison to what this person is going through.

“If I still had my house, and the ultimatum was that (this person) can live, if you just let us burn your house Maggie. I would say take the house. It doesn’t compare to death,” she said.

“You always have to be thankful, no matter what you’re dealt because you don’t have to go very far to see someone worse off than yourself,” Maggie added.

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Hundreds attended the Blankman Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser, Saturday night. Phil McLachlan/The Free Press


Phil McLachlan

About the Author: Phil McLachlan

Phil McLachlan is the editor at the Penticton Western News. He served as the reporter, and eventually editor of The Free Press newspaper in Fernie.
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