Support pours in for fire victims

Havre Daily News/Caleb Hutchins, file

A Havre firefighter stands near the charred east side of Sarah Jones' house while fighting a multi-house fire, June 27.

More than two weeks after Sarah Jones' house was one of the two that burned at 6th Street and 4th Avenue, the community's support is still coming in.

Friends of Jones are planning a bake sale during the July 30 Saturday Market at Town Square and are setting up an account at Bear Paw Credit Union to accept donations to help her get her life back to normal, after the blaze tore apart her home and her business, Sunshine Cleaning.

"They've been wonderful, " Jones said. "I have had a lot of support from a lot of people: people that helped clean up, people that brought food and drinks while we were cleaning out the house. "

Tammy Murray has been friends with Jones for years and after the fire wanted to not only help her but also help others help her.

"There were lots of people reaching out, not sure what to do, " Murray said. "We wanted to offer a way for people to reach out. "

Aside from contributing to the bank account, people can help through the bake sale at the end of the month, both as customers and as contributors of merchandise.

Sharon May, who works at Independence Bank, said she had known Jones for years, first as one of her daughter's best friends and then as a boss when May worked at Sunshine Cleaning.

May is running the bake sale and encourages anyone who wants to help to call her at 945-4244.

"If anybody needed help that girl was right there, " May said. "We're trying to return that to her. "

Jones said that she was thankful for all the help she has received in the two weeks since the fire, including from her "wonderful employees" who helped keep the business running while she was busy and the firefighters who helped her save what valuables they could during the fire.