Danielle O’Donnell and her family lost everything in a fire last week
By Nicole Williams
DANIELLE O’Donnell was sleeping in her Springvale home when she woke to a crackling sound and the dog barking.
Within a few minutes, the mother of two was standing on the front lawn watching the blaze destroy all the family’s possessions.
A family friend, Bianca Harmer, was driving past the Athol Road unit at 2pm last Thursday when she noticed the fence was on fire and stopped to help – and hasn’t stopped helping since.
“Once I knew Danielle was out, she was telling me the dog was still inside and I tried going back in to get him but the smoke and heat was too much,” Bianca said.
Dani, the family dog, lost his life in the blaze and was later found curled up on one of the kids’ beds.
“It was chaos. The family have lost absolutely everything,” she said
“Their home was insured but the contents were not so as a friend I am hoping to raise awareness of their situation to help rebuild what they have lost.”
Danielle said the family even had to go shopping for underwear but found out what mattered.
“I lost everything but I have the best friends and best family,” she said.
“You find out what really matters during this time. As long as I’ve got my kids”
Danielle, her husband Kevin and the two children are now sharing two single beds at a relative’s home and Bianca is rallying the community to get behind the community-minded family.
“Now this has happened, I think it is time for the community to pay back,” Bianca said.
“This family has done so much for everyone in the area.”
Danielle has been president of the school council at Athol Road Primary School, has raised thousands of dollars through fund-raisers for the Cancer Council and organised clothing and food drives for the Black Saturday bushfires and Queensland floods.
“Anywhere I can help I do,” Danielle said.
“I would usually have a house full of everyone else’s kids.”
Bianca is asking the community to help support the family by donating clothes, books, toys or money to help the family get back on their feet.
“Everyone is shattered that this has happened to Danielle and her family,” Ms Harmer said.
“We have set up a trust account and we want to see if we can get donations of clothing and books and things.”
To donate to the O’Donnell family, contact Bianca on 0414 300 582 or visit www.facebook.com/LetsGiveBackToDanni.
Donations can also be made directly through the Giving Back to the O’Donnells trust – BSB 083-297 Account 142587273.
Police are investigating the fire and are appealing for witnesses.
Anyone with information about the blaze are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Detective Sergeant Shane Pola on 9767 7487.
