Community helps fire victim

Grace Castleton (right) receives some much needed clothing from Ipswich Community Care Fund president Joy White after her belongings were lost in a Riverview fire.

Rob Williams

WHEN Grace Castleton and her young children arrived home to find their belongings destroyed by fire, she had no idea the road out of misfortune would be paved by the kindness of strangers.

The single mother-of-three children under five was shocked after fire consumed most of her possessions in her Riverview Housing Commission home.

Police said the fire started by an over-heated candle on Monday morning after Ms Castleton took her children to a park.

When the QT asked if people could help Grace and her children Emily, Clyde and Holly, readers responded with a swag of phone calls and emails.

Grace Castleton was almost speechless yesterday when Ipswich Community Care Fund (ICCF) gave her a $500 Woolworths debit card.

ICCF president Joy White said the volunteer-run organisation helped people who had been in house fires and other people in need with health and education.

It has a shop at Kruger Shopping Village on Kruger Parade at Redbank Plains where they raise money for Ipswich residents in need.

“We sell second-hand books, clothes and bric-a-brac and a lot of our ladies make craft items to be sold,” Mrs White said.

“So far this year we’ve donated more than $11,000. Last year it was $42,000.”

Ms Castleton said the Lead Childcare centres at Riverview and Goodna where her two youngest children went and Riverview State School where Emily went also helped out.

Even Riverview police beat Senior Constable John Morrisey’s wife dropped in clothes.

“It’s a bit full-on. It’s quite surprising there are people out there like that,” Ms Castleton said.

“I have my doubts about people but I have different vision of them now. People are coming out of the woodwork. It’s amazing how people have rallied.

“You don’t often see the kindness people have. I just want to say thank you to them.”

Ipswich Community Care Fund Inc., PO Box 513, Redbank Plains, Queensland. 4301.

READ MORE ...

Fire steals clothes from family