“We often think that it only happens to other people. It really makes you think,” said Julie Lessard, Jonathan Lessard’s mother, on the line. It was last December 25, her boy, his partner Mélissa and the three children of this blended family were at her house to celebrate when Jonathan’s neighbor called. Jonathan’s house was burning down. “He was in shock. He went there, but barely two hours later… everything was destroyed,” says the victim’s mother.
Several donations and…a house as a gift
Quickly, a vast support network was built around the family who were experiencing difficult hours in the midst of celebrations. It was Geneviève Lessard, a long-time friend of Jonathan, who had the reflex to start a crowdfunding campaign to help her friend financially in the days to come. If the family (fortunately) had insurance, those around them realize that the waiting period is present and that needs are hidden behind the little everyday things. Any form of help makes a difference, especially with children aged 5 to 13.
“It’s never pleasant to go to the fire, but it seems like it’s worse in the middle of Christmas.”
— Geneviève Lessard, friend of the victim
“When I found out, I felt useless! He who had just renovated his house, redone his son-in-law’s bedroom… I told myself that I was going to start a collection and maybe raise a few hundred dollars. I had never done this before. In 24 hours, we had already reached $4,000 in donations,” rejoices the mother. At the end of Friday evening, there were more than $4,760 in the prize pool. “It’s the kind of story that makes you think, I arrived home on December 25 and I checked all my smoke detectors,” she says. “Yes, it’s a sad situation, but I also want people to see all the beauty that comes out of it. “Shows that solidarity still exists!”, underlines the grateful woman.
“The outpouring of generosity is amazing!”
— Julie Lessard, mother of the victim
Same echo from Julie Lessard. “It really touches me to see how well my son is cared for and how he is supported during this ordeal,” says his mother. Indeed, since the disaster, friends, acquaintances, even companies have offered their help in the form of donations to support the family in these difficult times. It must be said that life continues through the management of the fire which, for the moment, has no known cause. We need to eat, dress, take care of ourselves, and soon the children will go back to school. “Just now, Jonathan realized that he no longer had a school bag for the children…” points out Geneviève Lessard.
“People have their hearts in the right place!”
These donations are received as unexpected gifts, but more than appreciated by the family. Jonathan Lessard even found a temporary house to accommodate his family. “A good acquaintance who lives close to his home offered to let him come and stay as long as he needed in his house, which was vacant. Everything is already furnished! He will be able to enter on Monday,” rejoices Jonathan’s mother
Since the tragedy, the whole family has mobilized to make shuttles to collect donations in the area. The phone doesn’t stop. “With the last few years we have known, we sometimes think that people have become individualistic, but there are still good people! There is a whole ripple effect that is also happening with the help of social media. We are speechless by all this generosity!” concludes Julie Lessard, moved, before returning to her family.
