LAUREL, Del. - Relief efforts continue all across Sussex county for families who lost everything to the Rigbie Apartment fire in Laurel. Monetary donations and permanent housing is the biggest need right now.
The Good Ole Boy Foundation has been working to find permanent housing for the 11 families that were left with nothing after the devastating fire in Laurel.
Rusty Dukes with the non-profit says the problem is that finding housing within the Laurel School District has been a challenge. But they hope to find housing in the surrounding Laurel area where many of the families work.
Dukes says he knows firsthand what it's like to go through a tragedy like this.
"My house burnt to the grown when I was 14 years old," explained Dukes.
When he saw his local community going through the same thing he knew he had to step in to help.
"What the Good Ole Boys is trying to do is help them get back on their feet. We have put I believe five or six families in permanent housing," added Dukes.
People from Ocean View even stopping by to drop off food for families.
"It's heart wrenching you could put yourself in that position if I've lost everything you see the look on their faces you see how they react and the first thing you ask is 'what can I do to help them?' said Debra Czajkowski, an Ocean View resident who was making a donation on Wednesday.
"Right now the immediate need is finances, because we're still housing about 3 or 4 families in local hotels, we got a couple families at the Rotary house," said Dukes.
The Chick-Fil-A in Seaford is also stepping in to help, hosting a fundraiser from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday.
For every transaction that is dine-in, drive-thru, or carry out, they will donate $1 to the families.
Governor Carney thanking everyone for the community efforts.
"To the Laurel Fire Department to the Good Ole Boys, Red Cross, La Esperanza, Little Creek and other departments thank you for your support," said Gov. Carney.
Dukes says although this is a devastating tragedy it has brought a small community closer than ever.
"The tears that were cried the night of the fire by these families I felt that. They were strangers to us then they are family to us now," said Dukes.
Anyone interested in helping these families can drop off monetary donations at Dukes Lumber in Laurel or A&K Enterprises also located in Laurel. The Good Ole Boy Foundation also has ways you can donate online, by clicking here: https://www.goodoleboyfoundation.com/give.html