Community Rallies Around Family After House Fire In Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — The community is rallying around a Wallingford family of six after they were displaced from their home in a fire late Monday night. A GoFundMe has been launched in support of the Bellard family.

Firefighters responded to the fire at 44 Cooper Ave. around 11:30 p.m. on March 9 and found flames showing from the cape-style home, fire officials said. All six family members — Heather and Matt Bellard and their four children, ages 5 to 17 — along with their dog and cat, made it out of the house safely, according to the GoFundMe page.

“The family has lost everything aside from the clothes on their backs at the time they fled their home and they have been advised that nothing is salvageable,” reads a post on the GoFundMe, which was organized by Heather Laffin. “This Go Fund Me is to help support them in any way possible. Any amount that you or your friends are able to donate will go directly to the family to help them get back up on their feet again.”

More than $3,200 has been raised by 50 people within the first day of the GoFundMe campaign. Donations of all kinds — clothes, personal items, toys, etc. — are also being accepted. Donations can be dropped off at the following locations: East Wallingford Volunteer Fire Department (2 Kondracki Lane); Hazy Nights - 208 North Colony Street (Route 5, behind Subway) and Triton Crossfit.

The fire department has set up a drop-off box at the front of the station, behind the flag poles.

“Before we could get the drop-off box assembled, people from the Cooper Avenue neighborhood were already arriving with clothes and household items for the family,” officials wrote in a post on the East Wallingford Volunteer Fire Department, Station 8 Facebook page. “Our community is truly amazing!”

For more information, or to make a donation, visit the GoFundMe page here.

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