The Peru Gazette

Posted October 22, 2008 at 8:45 p.m. by John T. Ryan

This letter was received from Brenda Higgins Cimo whose sister Theresa and her husband Robert (Rob) lost their 64 Elm Street home in an early morning fire. The Higgins girls grew up on the Jabez Allen Road in Peru.

Dear Friends and Family,

I am writing with terribly sad news that my sister Theresa’s house completely burned down last night and nothing is left. After buying a piece of land out of foreclosure, Theresa and her husband, Rob, spent three years working tirelessly after work, on weekends and through the summers to build the house themselves. My sister is a homemaker, Rob is a high school math teacher and they have four children. Just last week they moved all of their belongings into the home, but were staying at Rob’s parents’ house while they finished the last of the construction. Unfortunately, the house was not yet insured, and they therefore lost everything that they owned in the fire. We are so thankful that they were not in the house since the fire department said survival would have been unlikely due to the fire’s rapid spread.

I kindly ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. I am pulling together a collection to help my sister and her family. If you would like to make a contribution, please make a check payable to Theresa & Robert Witkiewicz and send it to my attention:

Brenda Cimo
130 Somerset Drive
Hershey, PA 17033

Or, if you prefer, checks can be mailed directly to:

Theresa and Robert Witkiewicz
c/o 394 Wilfred King Rd.
Ellenburg Depot, NY 12935

Any dollar amount would be greatly appreciated. I understand that these are difficult economic times for everyone and completely understand if a contribution is not possible. If you think anyone else would want to be informed, please feel free to forward this e-mail.

I sincerely thank you in advance for your gracious support.

Wishing you and your families safety and lots of love.

Brenda