Kind-hearted people in a West Lothian community have joined together to help a family who lost everything in a fire last week.
Christine Baarman (38) was forced to flee her Whitburn home with her two children aged 12 and 19 when the blaze took hold last Monday morning.
The family were left homeless after making their escape from the four-in-a-block at Gareloch Way wearing just their pyjamas and are now living in temporary accommodation.
Christine’s friend, Lesley Blair, said they have been left with nothing and so has set up a fundraising page to help them replace everything they lost. The Gofundme page has now raised over £1500 and Lesley said her friend has been overwhelmed by support from people in Whitburn and beyond.
Lesley told The Courier her friend –who volunteers at the local food bank – is coping “as best as she can” in the aftermath of the fire.
She continued: “She’s such a lovely lady and it’s been such a shame for them and a big upheaval for the kids.
“We have been absolutely inundated with donations, Purdie’s in Blackburn donated a self-storage unit and that’s now full.
“We’ve also had people who have offered to decorate for her when she does get back home and things like that.
“It’s been absolutely unbelievable the kindness shown by everybody and there’s actually a lady who was changing her kitchen so she dropped off her kettle, toaster and everything.
“People have been really fantastic, and some of them really haven’t got much themselves.
“Every day I’ve had phone calls or e-mails from people offering us things.”
Lesley, a cleaner at Whitburn Academy, said Christine and her family are “stunned” by the support and well wishes and wanted to thank everyone who had helped.
She continued: “She is so thankful and grateful for everybody and what they have done for her.
“She’s not going to be alone any more, we’re going to make sure of that.
“She’s a wonderful person and volunteers at the food bank so we’re just happy to help her.”
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