AUBURN - A month after a fire destroyed their home, the Hogan family is feeling the warmth of community support.
Hundreds gathered Sunday at the Ukrainian Club to help the Hogan family get back on their feet.
In early April, Shawn and Jennifer Hogan's Summerhill home burned, along with all their possessions. Now, the couple, along with their two young sons, Devin, 6, and Dillon, 10, are renting a mobile home in Moravia. The couple also have an older son, Philip, 18, who does not live with the couple.
“It's great... It restores your faith in humanity,” Jennifer Hogan said of seeing so many people come out for her family.
The four-hour benefit brought a mix of family and friends, along with well-wishers from the area. Besides the fundraiser, people have made the family dinner, donated replacement items such as clothing and household items and offered assistance finding a new home since the fire, she said.
Shawn Hogan thanked everyone who came and added he too was reminded of the humanity of their neighbors.
Two weeks after the blaze, Jennifer Hogan discovered she was pregnant.
Shawn's mother, Jerry Hogan, and her friend, Margaret Collard, organized Sunday's benefit in hopes the community would donate enough to provide the family with a down payment on a house.
“The trailer they're renting is small, really small,” Collard said.
The family currently is looking at homes, and will definitely stay in the area, Jennifer Hogan said. While the couple has tried to keep the worst of the situation from their two younger sons, house hunting is something they can do together as they look towards the future.
Collard was surprised at the number of neighbors, friends, family members who came out Sunday and bought tickets at the door. She estimated 150 people purchased advance tickets.
Besides the $10 entrance donation, they offered a 50/50 drawing and raffle tickets. Family and businesses donated items such as home goods, picture frames, bottles of wine, gift certificates to restaurants and hair salons, and fish poles.
Patty Germano worked the 50/50 table, which brought in more than $650 for both the winner and the Hogans.
The family lost precious heirlooms and all of Shawn Hogan's glass-blowing equipment. Jennifer Hogan has a gift and novelty store on State Street in Auburn. She also is a freelance writer for The Citizen.
“We're getting over it and moving on,” she said.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext 267 or
jessica.soule@lee.net
How To Help
€ To offer donations, from money to clothing or furniture, contact Shawn Hogan's mother, Jerry Hogan, at 253-2016.
€ Financial contributions can be sent to Benefit for Shawn Hogan Family, C/O Jerry Hogan, 18 Koenig Court, Auburn, NY, 13021.
In early April, Shawn and Jennifer Hogan's Summerhill home burned, along with all their possessions. Now, the couple, along with their two young sons, Devin, 6, and Dillon, 10, are renting a mobile home in Moravia. The couple also have an older son, Philip, 18, who does not live with the couple.
“It's great... It restores your faith in humanity,” Jennifer Hogan said of seeing so many people come out for her family.
The four-hour benefit brought a mix of family and friends, along with well-wishers from the area. Besides the fundraiser, people have made the family dinner, donated replacement items such as clothing and household items and offered assistance finding a new home since the fire, she said.
Shawn Hogan thanked everyone who came and added he too was reminded of the humanity of their neighbors.
Two weeks after the blaze, Jennifer Hogan discovered she was pregnant.
Shawn's mother, Jerry Hogan, and her friend, Margaret Collard, organized Sunday's benefit in hopes the community would donate enough to provide the family with a down payment on a house.
“The trailer they're renting is small, really small,” Collard said.
The family currently is looking at homes, and will definitely stay in the area, Jennifer Hogan said. While the couple has tried to keep the worst of the situation from their two younger sons, house hunting is something they can do together as they look towards the future.
Collard was surprised at the number of neighbors, friends, family members who came out Sunday and bought tickets at the door. She estimated 150 people purchased advance tickets.
Besides the $10 entrance donation, they offered a 50/50 drawing and raffle tickets. Family and businesses donated items such as home goods, picture frames, bottles of wine, gift certificates to restaurants and hair salons, and fish poles.
Patty Germano worked the 50/50 table, which brought in more than $650 for both the winner and the Hogans.
The family lost precious heirlooms and all of Shawn Hogan's glass-blowing equipment. Jennifer Hogan has a gift and novelty store on State Street in Auburn. She also is a freelance writer for The Citizen.
“We're getting over it and moving on,” she said.
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext 267 or
jessica.soule@lee.net
How To Help
€ To offer donations, from money to clothing or furniture, contact Shawn Hogan's mother, Jerry Hogan, at 253-2016.
€ Financial contributions can be sent to Benefit for Shawn Hogan Family, C/O Jerry Hogan, 18 Koenig Court, Auburn, NY, 13021.
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