A local community is stepping forward after a devastating fire in Edwardsburg!

The fire left five families homeless and destroyed a more than 100-year old building!

But incredible generosity is helping these families get back on their feet.

The night of the fire all of the victims stayed with friends and family.

But by Saturday night, they were already starting over!

18 month old Haylie Estep will have a home for the holidays this year thanks to the generosity of Edwardsburg residents.

“They are really pulling together for our baby. One of the things we were worried about or I was worried about especially with Christmas right around the corner for our daughter,” says Haylie’s mother Nicole Estep.

The Esteps were living in one of five apartments destroyed in a fire Friday night in Edwardsburg.

“We just got home Friday from Christmas shopping getting ready to lay my daughter down when it all happened,” says James Estep.

Right now, all of the displaced families are staying at Village Heights Apartments donated by a local business man.

And more donations keep pouring in by others who heard about the fire.

Matt Finely works at a flea market in Paw Paw part time and gathered necessities this past weekend.

“Everybody in the flea market everybody there started cleaning out their booth stuff and piled boxed of it all up… canned food you know just loaded up my van you know,” Finely says.

Its generosity the Esteps never saw coming when they watched their old home go up in flames.

But its a Christmas surprise they'll never forget.

“What I'm really thinking about is I don't know how to thank everyone for what they've done,” says James.

“They are amazing people… amazing people,” agrees Nicole.

The Red Cross, Garver Lake Golf Course, V-F-W, and the Real Deal Resale and Ebay Consignment Store have been helping out the families out.

Plus, an anonymous source donated five hundred dollars in cash for each apartment.

Ways to Help

Real Deal Resale
574-215-6652

Village Heights Apartments
574-298-2288