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Community rallies around Thompson’s Country Market fire victims

Tenants grateful for the assistance
Crystal Baptiste, and her daughter, Colette, 17, are amazed at the outpouring of support for the four victims of a Christmas Day fire at Thompson's Country Market in West Sunbury. They stand among donated clothing and home goods from the tight-knit community Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, at Three C's Pizza in West Sunbury. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

WEST SUNBURY — When the Thompson’s Country Market building burned Christmas morning, four people were left displaced and without basic necessities.

Crystal Baptiste, owner of 3 C’s Pizza in the borough, decided to set up a donation drive for the families, and said she has received 175 bags of clothes and household goods as of Wednesday afternoon.

“I had a fire in November; I knew what it was like to be lost and scared,” Baptiste said.

The building consisted of upstairs apartments. One was home to Joseph Smith, the other for the Sears family: mother Kiera, 15-year-old Makayla and 17-year-old Kavan.

Sears said words couldn’t express how grateful she is for the donations they already have received.

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