It's been exactly a week since a a Mohegan Lake home on Wenonah Trail, and displayed its three residents.
Since then, friends and family of Diane and John Caro have been doing everything they could to help out, but they also need community members to step in.
"Even a kind note of support, something as small as that, will go such a long way," said Linda Sugrue, who is a close cousin. "That will mean the world."
Diane was home at the time and was sitting in front of her computer when she saw the back wall of her home on fire. The fire then went up the wall, by the windows on the outside of the house, she told firefighters. She got her elderly mother out of the house, who also lives with them, and called her husband, who was not home at the time.
"They're a kind family," Sugrue said. "We're all suffering for them. Until it happens to someone you know...It's right under our nose and our community and we have the responsibility to help someone who is hurting."
Sugrue said John is an architect, who had worked with Yorktown residents for years, and Diane is an artist who worked from home. She used to have a craft store, and then a baseball card store, both of which have closed since.
They're both active in the community, Sugrue said and although she didn't not give out too many details, because it's all personal information, she said both John and Diane have been giving up their time to help others in the community.
"They're very humble, giving, generous folks," Sugrue said. "But they didn't want to reach out to people. It's hard for them to reach out. They've been so overwhelmed by the unknown."
She said the Caro's have not asked anyone for help, but have been grateful for what they had received so far. Their house has been boarded up and since the house fire the family has been staying with their daughter, who lives right next door.
"They're overwhelmed by the love and support of the community, friends and family," Sugrue said and added that the family is thankful they were able to get out of the house, and were not hurt. "They're looking forward to figure out what the next step is. It's all about being there for each other."
The family have pretty much lost everything, from the coach to the new fridge they recently bought, to clothes and more. Whatever wasn't damaged by the fire, suffered smoke and water damage as a result. However, Sugrue said the family was able to salvage their wedding album.
Diane maintains a blog for her crafts business and last week posted a note "with a heavy heart" about the house fire, telling followers she wasn't sure when she would be able to design new projects.
"Everyone is safe and for that I'm, oh, so thankful, but it's still devastating," she wrote. "I am forever grateful to my family and my dearest friends who have all been here in body and spirit."
If anyone wishes to help and reach out to the Caro family, can send them a note or money – just drop it off at the home's mailbox at 1646 Wenonah Trail in Mohegan Lake, Sugrue said.
"It doesn't just end a week later," she said.
