United Way begins fundraising for family

St. Joseph County United Way is overseeing a fund to assist a Three Rivers family who suffered substantial loss in a recent fire.

Agency officials said the Wanda Lewis Family Catastrophic Fund has been set up in response to the family’s need for basic items, including clothing.

Their residence was destroyed by fire Thursday last week. The family of seven did not have renters insurance.

Everyone in the family escaped without injuries.

Three of the family members are under 8 years of age; one child is deaf. Firefighters were able to retrieve one of the hearing aids for the child but the second one was lost in the fire.

Norton Elementary in Three Rivers and Fibre Converters in Constantine are taking the lead in starting a collection for the family.

More information is available from the St. Joseph County United Way: sjcuf.com.