By Craig Anderson

CAMDEN-WYOMING — Strangers and friends, family and community assistance.

In the aftermath of losing their home to a quick-moving fire last Saturday, the seven-member Marsh family greatly appreciates them all.

“I was just stunned by the response from people we knew and didn’t know,” said Jessy, who is raising five daughters ages 2 to 14 with her husband, Kevin.

“The support started almost immediately and is still continuing. We’re just so grateful to everyone who has stepped forward to help.

“It feels like the whole city of Dover has our back. It feels like the entire state has our back.“I just never would have imagined it would be like this.”

The assistance began arriving almost immediately following the fire. Without hesitation, Katie Mitchell, Ms. Marsh’s boss, quickly established a GoFundMe account after the Marsh home at 8109 Willow Grove Road was destroyed.

The fund, supported by those who know the family and others who don’t, had received $22,655 from 215 donors through gofundme.com by 2 p.m. Wednesday. The donation goal is $60,000.

“It’s doing amazing and I’m just floored on how it’s been received,” Ms. Mitchell said. “It’s doing so well because we have a community that comes together in a time of need like this.

“Most who donated know the Marsh family and know they would do the same for them in a heartbeat, and they wouldn’t think twice.”

Next Wednesday in Milford, easySpeak will host a “Stuff the Trailer” event to benefit the family. Essential items can be placed in the brewpub’s Alcohauler to benefit the family. The event will run from 5 to 8 p.m. at 586 Milford Harrington Highway. Additionally, easySpeak will donate a portion of food sales to the Marshes.

The family also received two truckloads of assorted items they were sifting through Tuesday night.

The question of what to do next is to be determined. The family initially considered renting, but then opted to live in the upstairs portion of the home of Ms. Marsh’s parents while figuring things out.

“We went into survival mode right afterward and thought ‘We have to find someplace to live, we have to find someplace to live,’” Ms. Marsh said. “Now we’re looking at waiting a week or two to readjust and then see what we’re going to do.

“We just need to breathe first. It’s too soon to make a big decision like that.”

The family had rented their residence for three years and planned to buy it by the end of this year or early 2022, Ms. Marsh said.

According to Assistant State Fire Marshal Mike Chionchio, a cooking fire caused $30,000 damage to the house. Now, Ms. Marsh said, “There is no moving back into the home.”

Mr. Marsh suffered leg burns while making an unsuccessful attempt to rescue family pet dogs Bella and Jacoby, along with turtle Koopa.

Mr. and Ms. Marsh, both Caesar Rodney High graduates, aim to stay in the CR School District for the benefit of their girls.

Ms. Marsh works as an assistant for Ms. Mitchell at Claws and Paws Pet Sitting, and Mr. Marsh is a production supervisor at SWM International in Middletown.

In the midst of a terrible situation, Ms. Marsh said her daughters have risen to the occasion of recovery with positive attitudes and appreciation for everything that’s come their way.

“Our kids have been amazing through this thing, which has made it a whole lot easier,” she said. “They understand and are thankful for how much others are helping us.”

The blaze was part of a string of fires since Nov. 1 south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. They included two in Middletown and one each in Georgetown, Bethany Beach and Rehoboth Beach. A residential fire in Delmar on Oct. 29 left one dead.