Update: As of Monday morning, the Bailey Family has enough clothing, according to Tammy Parsons, who has been collecting donations. Monetary donations are still very welcome
Update: On Saturday night a Go Fund Me page was set up to help the Bailey family who lost their home to fire on Friday night. The donation page can be found here. In addition, Tammy Parsons is collecting donations at Divine Inspirations. Open Mon – Sat 10-5, Sunday 12:30-4:30. If you have any questions, she can be contacted at 207-491-2898.
NEW SHARON – A family returned home Friday night to a shocking discovery: their farmhouse at 660 Weeks Mill Road was completely engulfed in flames.
Thomas Bailey, his wife and five children lost their two-story home of eight years to a fire that started sometime after they left to go out to dinner. Arriving home after 10:30 p.m., “we found our house completely engulfed in flames,” he said. Fortunately, Bailey noted, the family’s 45 head of cattle in the barn near the house were not harmed.
Upwards of 50 fire fighters from eight towns were called to the scene at 10:50 p.m., said New Sharon Fire Chief Roger Foster. When he arrived, “the home was so far gone there was no opportunity; we couldn’t save anything,” he said. “The fire had breached through every wall.” Fire fighters from New Sharon, and the mutual aid towns of Farmington, Chesterville, Wilton, Temple, Industry, Strong and New Vineyard, worked to extinguish the fire through the night. Foster left the scene at 6 a.m.
By mid-morning on Saturday as Bailey milked his herd he was trying to take in what had happened and decide what to do next. He looked down at his sweatshirt and jeans and said, “these are the only clothes I own right now. At least I had my wallet with me. Everything else was destroyed,” Bailey said. He remembered wishing sometime in the night as firefighters battled the blaze, that if only someone passing by or one of his neighbors would have seen the fire and had called it in sooner, something might have been saved, he said. The family had been renting the dairy farm property for the last seven or eight years.
On Saturday morning, though, the most pressing need was to get enough water for the herd. The barn’s water supply had run through the house, but that was destroyed in the fire.
Through the morning, family members were shuttling portable water tanks back and forth from Bailey Hill Farm’s supply on Bailey Hill Road in Farmington. But shuttling water for miles isn’t the long-term answer, he’ll need to move the cows and may have to sell off some of the herd.
“I’ve got to figure out what I’m going to do with the animals,” he said as the milker pumped away in a shed off the animal barn. “I work 16 hours each day and my wife helps. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Fire Chief Foster said he will be returning to the scene with an investigator of the state’s Fire Marshal’s Office to see if they can determine a cause, as is routine in a fire like this.
Bailey said it looked like the fire started in the area of the garage, which was attached to the house. He thought it may have gotten started at the electrical panel, which was located in the garage, but that was only a guess, he said.
“We lost everything but it’s all replaceable,” he said and added, “but the main thing is nobody was hurt. God is good.”
So sorry, such a difficult time for this family.
Family/Friends – anyone have any sizes the family could use for shoes,clothes,jackets etc … . I’d gladly get some items together.
To helpinghands:They have nothing. Everything was lost in the fire. They did not have renters insurance so any help you are willing to give is greatly appreciated. They have 5 children – Brooke age 9 wears a 161/2 youth pant – ladies small shirt -ladies size 8 shoe, Troy age 7 wears size 8 pants – 10 shirt – 3 shoe, Trent age 5 wears size 6 pants – 8 shirt -11/2 shoe, Bridgette age 4 wears a size 5 pant – 5 shirt – 111/2 shoe, Bella age 2 wears 24 month or 2T – size 6 shoes.Thomas (dad) wears a 34/30 pant – L to XL shirt – 101/2 shoes. Jenny (mom) wears size 12 pants – M to L shirt – size 9 shoes. They also need coats, hats and mittens…and size 4 diapers. If you would like to donate clothing (hand me downs are great), it can be dropped off at Divine Inspirations. Open Mon – Sat 10-5, Sunday 12:30-4:30. If you have any questions, you can contact me at 207-491-2898. Thank you.
Tammy,
We know the Bailey’s. I put all your info on our CHBC FB page. Is this something that I can share on the other FB pages in the area so people can be aware and donate? I am so burdened for them :(
Is there an online giving site set up?
I am in NC and would love to help.
http://www.gofundme.com/ngis7s
If you know the family, please send them over to the United Methodist Economic Ministry in Salem and talk to Tammy. She will help them with some clothes and other items they might need.
Here’s a donation site someone set up for the family:
http://www.gofundme.com/ngis7s
Keeping this family in my prayers…and thinking that a gift card to the grocery store or one of our local thrift shops might be a good idea! Thanks Tammy for the info.
There is a go fund me site called Bless the Bailey’s
Tammy – you will be at Devine Inspiration today? Just confirming … I have some items I can bring in :)
Thank you!
http://www.gofundme.com/ngis7s
Here is the link for the Go Fund Me account that has been set up for the Bailey’s. Thank you!
Courtney: A ‘GoFundMe’ has been started. Go to: http://www.gofundme.com/ngis7s
Thank you for asking!
So sorry for the Bailey family for their loss. Fire is a terrible thing and I PRAY THE FAMILY WILL GET HELP FROM THE RED CROSS AND THE COMMUNITY
For those able to help monetarily, here is the link to donate!!
Donations can be dropped off at Divine Inspirations (the shop next to McDonald’s in Farmington). I will be open today at 10:00am. The boys and the oldest girl are the ones with the greatest need for clothes at this point. Money donations are also greatly appreciated as they will need to buy farming tools, regular tools, and every day household items. Money can be given by going to http://www.gofundme.com/ngis7s or through Divine Inspirations. I can take cash, checks or credit cards. They will receive the full amount donated along with your name and address. You can call me at 207-491-2898 if you have any questions.Thank you to all those who have already donated. It is greatly appreciated.
What a terrible thing! So glad everyone is safe! What a great family they are! God is Good!
Stop over to WMCA with the children’s and adult sizes and they have jackets for most sizes their and they are all brand new.
I know the church in Farmington Falls is always helpful to folks who need free clothes, shoes and jackets, etc.
Go Fund Me charges 7.5% plus .30 per donation. Send or drop off your donations to TammyParsons at Divine Inspirations, Front Street. (the shop next to McDonald’s in Farmington, Maine).in the form of gift cards checks or cash and the Bailey’s will get ALL of the donations that they so need.
Both Thomas and Jenny come from a long line of hard working farmers .
I don’t know if it’s helpful but, I’ve got hot running water in my barn, I could shuttle some over in tubs back of truck if it would help keep theirs from freezing so fast.
Wish I knew about the fees associated with the Go-Fund donation sight. I would have liked every penny of my donation to have gone to this family. Sending prayers to the Bailey family.
To Beth: Please do not feel bad about using the GoFundMe online services. The Bailey Family is grateful for your donation and your prayers! It has been an encouragement to them as they have watched the total amount go up along with many encouraging words. GoFundMe charges 5% to use their service. There is also a 2.9% + $0.30 credit card processing fee from the bank that is used. Even though there is a small fee for this service, it can be an easier way for many to be able to give, especially if they are from out of town or from out of state. We encourage people to give in whatever way is best for them. It is all greatly appreciated!
To everyone else who has given: I would like to thank you for the tremendous response we have received. Many people have stopped by the store with bags of clothes for the children and for Thomas & Jenny. We have received plenty of clothes for everyone. We have also received backpacks, books, toys, blankets, towels, food, gift cards, checks, cash and lots of prayers. Thank you for rallying around this family and showing them how much you care! It has been a very difficult time for them, but through your generosity, it has been fun watching the children get excited about their new clothes and toys that have been donated. Little Bridgette loves clothes. She comes over to me and says, “Tammy, look at my dress and my cow boots”…as she twirls around with a big smile on her face. Someone had donated some cowboy boots and she called them cow boots. Troy showed me his new John Deere overalls, again with a big smile on his face. Trent showed me his new little farm toy with animals someone had donated and Brooke was sorting through the big pile of clothes deciding on what she was going to try on next. It was so nice to see their sad little faces turn to smiles because of you. Thank you so much!
If you have not yet given and would like to, you can give by credit card by going to http:/www.gofundme.com/ngis7s or you can stop by Divine Inspirations in Farmington next to McDonalds. You can also mail a check to: Divine Inspirations, 283 Front Street, Farmington, ME 04938. Please make checks out to Thomas Bailey. Thank you for your continued support in helping this family rebuild their lives. Every little bit helps and is greatly appreciated!
I have a GoFundMe page for a diaper drive I am doing for a philanthropy project at school. I know there is a 2-year-old little girl in this sweet family. Do they still need diapers for her? I’d love to help!!