Community rallies around family displaced by fire

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Clarendon County has rallied around a family of seven displaced by a fire early Saturday morning.
An attic fire in a home in the 1100 block of Deberry Drive in Manning took Clarendon County firefighters about three hours to put out, Chief Frances Richbourg said.
Neighbor Vanessa Poston Gardner then asked for donations of money and clothing for the family.
"I've been able to raise over $1,500 (and we've) delivered two car loads of clothes and toys," Gardner said. "Donations are still coming. I'm humbled by our little community."
The family was also in contact with Manning Primary School Principal Otis Reed, who opened the school's clothes closet during the school's vacation for the family.
"We have a clothes closet filled with clothes, shoes, etc.," Reed said. "The closet is not much used because many people don't know about it. They don't even have to ask, they just need to come by. It's available normally during school hours, but if other hours are necessary we may be able to work something out."
Garnder said the Sandhills Chapter of the American Red Cross has provided the family with shelter at a hotel for the next three days.
According to reports from the Clarendon County Fire Department, the family was left without their rental home on Deberry Drive just a few days after moving in.
"They moved in over Christmas from what I'm told," Richbourg said. "They had an active fire in the attic space when firefighters arrived. It apparently started from the chimney and extended into the attic. I think most of the fire was in the attic, but there was smoke and water damage in the home."
Gardner said she was amazed with the generosity shown to the family.
"I would like to thank everyone who has reached in their pockets, closets, attics and garages to help the Hilton family," Gardner said on Facebook. "Our community has really come together to support this couple and their five children. The family is thankful and humbled by all of our support. You have all been so gracious and I wanted to share how appreciative the family is."
Needs include, for Boy 1, size 16 pants, youth large shirts, men’s 8.5 shoe size; Boy 2, size 14 pants, youth large shirt, men’s 8.5 shoe size; Boy 3, 4T clothes, size 7T shoes; Boy 4, youth 8 pants, youth medium shirt, size 1 shoe; Girl 1, size 8 youth pants, youth medium shirt, size 2 shoe; adult F, ladies 10 pants, ladies M shirt, size 8 shoes; and adult M, 38-40 W-L pants, 2XL shirt and men’s size 13 shoe.
Items can be dropped of at The Manning Times starting Monday, or at Gardner's office, 1791 Greeleyville Highway in Manning, about a half-mile past John Deere on S.C. 261.