A thank you note to a caring community

To the Editor: In January a fire started in our dining room and caused smoke and heat damage throughout our house. Our family would like to thank our friends and members of our community who came to our assistance. Specifically, we give special thanks to Barbara Brownlee for notifying the authorities about the fire and the Sparta Volunteer Fire Dept. for their work to save our home. We also thank the Buyer family for giving us a temporary place to stay. We extend our deepest appreciation to Laura Trent, principal of Alpine Elementary, Tammy Lyons, president of the PTO, and the students and staff of Alpine Elementary. As a result of your efforts, our six-year-old daughter learned that her school community was there for her during a most difficult time. We also thank all those who reached out to us with donations and expressions of sympathy and support. Special thanks go to the student members and supporting faculty of the middle school student council. You have set a wonderful example of citizenship for our young children. Finally, we thank Jim Irven, our contractor, who has helped us fix up our home over these last few months. His honesty and professionalism are greatly appreciated. During such a difficult time, we knew we did not need to worry about our home being repaired. It has been comforting for us to know we live in such a concerned and caring community. Anette, Mark, Sarah and Lily Hoffman Sparta