Community uplifts local family following Cranberry home fire
After Seneca Valley senior Santiago Lecorchick and his family lost their home to an overnight fire on Monday, the owners of Henry’s Meat Market in Cranberry Township didn’t hesitate to assist one of their employees.
Co-owner Grant Craig and his family launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Santiago, who has worked at the butcher shop since last fall as part of a work-study program.
It took a little more than 24 hours for the Cranberry community to shatter an initial fundraising goal of $15,000.
As of Tuesday night, the GoFundMe raised $21,381 via 395 donations. Craig said the money will go toward essentials like clothing, school supplies and household items as the family begins the recovery process.
“It’s amazing that whenever something truly tragic happens that the community steps up,” he said. “You can’t help everything, but whenever it really gets tough, everybody bands together. It’s just a beautiful thing to see. I’m just very appreciative of all my customers and friends and family for stepping up to help me help Santiago and his family.”
The blaze, which was sparked by overturned grill coals, broke out shortly after midnight at the two-story home located along the 1700 block of Garvin Road.
Craig said Santiago was doing homework in the basement when he noticed smoke and saw the ceiling begin to blacken.
When the doorknob was too hot to touch, he rushed to wake his father, and the two escaped just before the fire consumed their home.
Cranberry Township Fire and Emergency Services chief Scott Garing told the Butler Eagle on Monday that firefighters arrived around 1 a.m. to find the house fully engulfed and were on scene until around 5 a.m.
Though the family was unharmed, nearly everything inside was destroyed and the house was deemed “a total loss,” according to Garing.
Craig noted that Santiago, who has plans to attend Clarion University in the fall, has become a beloved member of his business.
“He’s a really good kid,” Craig said. “You can tell he was raised right by a good family. He has a really good work ethic too. Those are just things that you don’t see as much anymore.”
A link to the GoFundMe campaign can be found on Henry’s Meat Market Facebook page.
