Just hours after a Minnesota family's home burns to the ground Christmas Eve, the small community of Hardwick and Luverne is coming together to help the Aanenson family pick up the pieces and move forward.
Glenda and Leroy Schomacker live next to Hardwick, Minnesota in Luverne and heard right away about the fire that destroyed their friends home.
"Yesterday morning in church it was announced that they lost their home on Christmas Eve," Glenda Schomacker said.
And when they heard the news, emotions ran high.
"It's very, very hurtful yes, and you know they have lots of young children," Glenda Schomacker said.
The Aanenson's are a family of nine but eight people lived in the home. The family wasn't home when the fire started. And while any fire can be devastating, Glenda says it's even worse at Christmas time.
"Probably their gifts either opened or unopened were in the house and so now they have nothing," Glenda Schomacker said.
So the community wants to help. The American Reform Church in Luverne is looking to help the Aanenson's. They're planning some kind of benefit but are still working out the details.
"We're in a good community, we stick together and help each other out," Leroy Schomacker said.
Because community support is what the Schomacher's would want if they lost what this family has.
"It's just all the little things you can't replace, that's gotta hurt," Glenda Schomacker said.
We called The American Reform Church Monday afternoon and they are still working out the details of the benefit. We will keep you posted when it will be held.
