Family keeps struggling to rebuild after fire

The Shafers are in search of options to help them after a fire destroyed their home in Monmouth Junction.

By: Rebecca Tokarz
   The Shafer family is beginning to put their lives back together after a fire destroyed their home in the Monmouth Mobile Home Park last month, leaving the family of four homeless.
   The family has begun researching banks and loan companies that could help them install another home in the mobile home park. The family also is looking into other housing options including South Brunswick Affordable Housing Authority as well as U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Housing Service.
   The family could use some help coming up with money for whatever option they decide to move forward with. The home destroyed in the fire was not insured.
   "We’re working on a couple of prospects," fire victim Linda Shafer said. "We’re trying every possible way."
   A fire ripped through the Shafers’ New York Avenue home April 17, injuring 35-year-old Monmouth Junction firefighter Bob Grennan.
   The family’s two children were at home with the grandmother, MaryAnne Amriano, at the time. The trio and the family dog escaped the fire without injury. Firefighter Grennan was treated at the scene, police said.
   Police said the fire was an accident.
   The Shafer family — Andy, his pregnant wife, 8-year old son, A.J., and 8-year old niece, Joyce, who lives with the family — has been staying with relatives in Edison since the fire.
   Two weeks ago a loan company rejected the Shafer’s loan application that would have helped them place a $55,000 mobile home at the same location as the one destroyed in last month’s fire. That loan would have required the family to come up with $11,000 for the down payment on the loan.
   The couple has been working additional hours at work to raise money, but could use some help. If the family is able to obtain a loan for a new mobile home, they will still need to put down $11,000 for the downpayment. Mr. Shafer works as a carpet installer and Ms. Shafer works as a bookkeeper during the day and as a cleaner at night.
   Ms. Shafer said the township, school district and other individuals have been extremely generous to the family during their difficult time.
   "There are not enough words to say thank you," Ms. Shafer said.
   The township Department of Welfare and Social Services helped the family cover some of the costs related to the demolition, Ms. Wolf said.
   Pierre’s Family Restaurant on Georges Road is providing meals for the family on Thursday nights, Ms. Wolf said previously.
   Brooks Crossing, the school both children attend, held a fund-raising campaign to benefit the family. Funds collected were given to the Shafer family in the form of gift certificates to Wal-Mart and Stop & Shop.
   School officials at Brooks Crossing would now say how much had been raised, but did say donations were arriving at a steady rate.
   "It was a phenomenal amount," Ms. Shafer said. "I wasn’t even closely expecting that much."
   A couple of weeks ago, representatives from the Princeton Alliance Church contacted the family about their church fund-raising garage sale and asked the family to come and choose items they needed to rebuild.
   Ms. Shafer said she picked up a couple of bookshelves for A.J.’s room, a couch and a couple of other items.
   In addition, the family has picked up a living room set from a township resident who is moving next month who contacted Ms. Wolf, Ms. Shafer said. The family has had to rent a storage unit to keep all of the donations and items it has received.
   Janice Baer of Congregation B’nai Tikvah will launch a virtual baby shower to benefit Ms. Shafer through B’nai Tikvah’s Web site, according to Ms. Wolf.
   "That’s so cool," Ms. Shafer said when she learned about the virtual baby shower.
   The family has also received several bags of clothes that residents have dropped off at the Senior Center.
   But, since the family does not have access to a kitchen, it could use food, as well as additional clothing.
   A.J. wears boys size-12 pants and size-large T-shirt. He is a size-3 shoe, Ms. Shafer said. Joyce wears a size-14 girls pants and a size-large T-shirt. She’s a size-6½ women’s shoe, according to Ms. Shafer. Mr. Shafer is a size-34-x-32 jeans and wears large-sized T-shirts, he said. He is also a size-12 shoe. Ms. Shafer, expecting the couple’s second child in August, is a size-12 maternity and wears a large or an extra-large sized T-shirt. She wears a women’s size-7 shoe.
   She said she has received a tote of baby clothes from some friends right after the fire, but all the toys and other baby items from when A.J. was born were lost in the fire.
   Ms. Shafer said that although the family has gotten so much more than they ever expected, they’re looking for some beds and linens as well as items for a kitchen.
   Clothing, food and monetary donations can be dropped off at the Senior Center in the Municipal Complex on Ridge Road. For more information, contact Ms. Wolf at (732) 329-4000 ext. 677.