By: Erin Smith
The Bladenboro Benefit Committee will be holding a barbecue plate sale fundraiser Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. at the Bladenboro Historical Society Building for Cary and Esther Gause of Bladenboro. The event will include a barbecue plate sale and a bake sale, said Walters.
Committee member Joyce Walters said the couple lost their home and all of their belongings in a fire that ocurred in May. Walters said the couple was unable to save anything from their home.
Greg Gause, of Lumberton, who is the son of Cary and Esther Gause, said they have been staying with him in his home. Cary Gause suffers from Alzheimers and Greg said the loss of the family home has been a difficult one.
“It is a horrific thing for anybody to have to go through. I spent almost 17 years in the fire and rescue service, but it gives it whole different flavor when it’s your parents,” said Greg.
He said that his father has been to the house since the fire ocurred and has seen what remains. Greg said aside from the loss of their home and belongings, both parents are doing fine.
He said he and his family have been touched by the outpouring of support from the community since the fire took place. Greg said that people have donated clothing for Cary and Esther and he has a few personal items that they were able to salvage from the rubble.
Greg said the task at hand now is to complete the process of filing all of the necessary paperwork with the insurance company. He said while there was insurance on the home, with today’s construction costs, there most likely won’t be enough money to replace the home.
He said the biggest need right now is to replace the house.
“So many people have already done so much (for the family) and more people are wanting to do things,” said Greg.
He said that over the years his father would always come home and then go to work at someone’s house just to help them out.
“The outpouring of people wanting to help daddy is so overwhelming to me. He’s always worried about everyone else and never worried about himself,” said Greg.
The fundraiser will take place on Saturday, June 25, beginning at 4 p.m. at the Bladenboro Historical Society Building located at 818 Main Street, Bladenboro.
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