LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – 30 years worth of memories. 30 years worth of family hangouts and get togethers now only ash and rubble.
Jimmy Franco said his mother’s home in Shallowater was a special one. It represented a safe space where everyone could come together.
“This has always just been a big part of our entire family’s life and everything,” Franco said. “It’s go to grandma’s house, everyone show up at grandma’s house and mom’s house. It really was a landmark for all of us to get together.”
Franco said no matter what, everyone was welcome here. It means even more knowing he and other family members were able to call Shallowater home and have such a supportive community surrounding them.
“We grew up here,” Franco said. “Everybody’s seen us through school and work and we’ve built so many relationships here.”
It’s not just a house that’s gone, a family member is now gone, too. Franco said his younger brother, Thomas, was the one who died in the fire.
“He loved everybody, he put everybody before himself,” Franco said. “I love him and it’s just hard. He believed in God and he’s in a better place with all our other family members. I’m going to miss him in the long run.”
Without homeowners insurance, the rebuild is even more difficult. That’s why this GoFundMe has been made to help get the family back on their feet. That money will first go into bulldozing the house and helping purchase a travel trailer. It will then go to help with replacing essential items and basic necessities.
Franco said it means a lot to the family for West Texas to step in and help in any way they can.
“For them to be able to help us and donate and everything, they just really help us in a big piece of our life as we go through this,” Franco said.
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