(submitted photo)
Anita Draper
Catholic Herald Staff
When a chimney fire destroyed a Park Falls house last month, the Knights of Columbus stepped in to help.
Don and Shanda Cooley lost their home and 90 percent of its contents, according to El Tanner, Shanda’s father and a 44-year member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2639 in Park Falls.
Tanner, who has also been a member of Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Assembly 1205 for 12 years, said no one was injured in the blaze.
The KCs often donate to community members in such situations, Tanner said. Mark Schmidt, district deputy for the organization, presented the Cooleys with a check for $2,500. They received another $300 from the state office; $200 from KC Council #2963 in Phillips; and $200 from the Park Falls council.
“Our council has what we call our Disaster Relief Fund,” Tanner explained. “We try to help as many people as we can.”
Donations from the state fund are raised through sales of State Charity Raffle Tickets, he added.
The couple has three children — Emma, who was not living at home when the fire started Jan. 8; Amber; and Steven. Amber’s 2-month-old son, Arlan, was also living there.
It’s been more than a month since the family lost their home, and Tanner said they are doing okay.
“They are living with Don’s mom until they can build a new home in the spring,” he added.
