Couple aids family of 11 left homeless by fire

A Winnipeg manand his10 children, who were forced out of their home by a fire on Saturday, arelearning about the kindness of strangers.

Jonathan Williams, 39, and hischildren lost nearly everything when flames chased them from their house on Flora Avenue on Saturday.

Everyone in the home was able to get out safely, but the building suffered extensive damage.

The cause of the fire has been determined to befaulty electrical wiring.

Williamshas been struggling to raise his family as a single father since his wife died in 2008.

Ted Marcelino and his wife, Cori, saw news reports about the fire and felt compelled to help, particularly sincetheweekend marked the anniversary of the couple'sarrival in Canada from the Philippines.

The Marcelinosrememberwhat it was like to have nearly nothing, trying to start over.

"We've been here 31 years [on Saturday], 31 years. Anything we could grab we'll give," Ted Marcelino said. "We have more than enough Canada has been good to us, very, very good to us and it's hard to be in their shoes, so it's to share something."

The couple called Flora House, a drop-in centre operated by the Winnipeg Inner City Missions, which has been helpingWilliams and his children, aged four to 20.

The Marcelinos then met with Williams on Sunday and provided him with blankets and other household essentials.

"God bless them. It's from the bottom of my heart and it's from the bottom of all my kids' hearts,"Williams said.

Donations accepted at mission

Donations for the family are also being accepted by the Winnipeg Inner City Mission,at 415 Logan Ave.They have plenty ofclothing itemsbut need food, personal hygiene items,towels and blankets.

Mission spokespeoplesay more than 100 donors have dropped off itemsso far anddonations will be accepted through Thursday.

Larger items like furniture can be given to Hands of Hope. Information on how to donate isavailable on the website.

More help is coming from the Firefighters Burn Fund, which has provideda temporary place for the family to stay a three-bedroom suite in acomplex on Selkirk Avenue.

Martin Johnson, chair of the fund, said the fully furnished suite is specifically for situations like this. The cost of rent will have to be worked out with North End Housing, which owns the block.

The living quarters will be cramped, but it will bring the family members back under a singleroof. Several of themwere inone short-term shelter on the weekend, while the others were in a different residence.

The family can stayin the Selkirk Avenue suite for the next month, or longer, while they try to find more permanent living arrangements, Johnson said, noting itis a challenge to find rental properties in Winnipeg, especially for such a large family.

"When you get a family of this size, it can be challenging because you need a place large enough with rooms, a place for beds and the like. I come from a family ofeight, so I can relate to this group," Johnson said.

"[Williams]was taken to the house to see if he felt it was adequate for the family and he was given a key[Sunday] afternoon. They could have moved in last night or this morning."