Community Supporting Family After Fatal Greenfield Fire

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- As the family of two children killed in last Friday's Mirror Street house fire in Greenfield prepare to say their goodbyes, the community is coming to their aid.

The family lost everything in the fire and Pittsburgh City Councilman Corey O'Connor is leading an effort to find them a new place to live.

The family wants to remain in Greenfield, so the brother and cousin of the victims, Vernon Hayward, can continue to attend Greenfield Elementary School where he is in first grade.

"We know how great Pittsburgh is when it comes to giving, but this community is over the top right now," Greenfield Principal Eric Rosenthall says.

The school's Parent Teachers Organization is spearheading the effort to get the family what they need to start over.

For Vernon, Rosenthall says: "What we're trying to do is get him clothes, shoes. [With] the winter months coming up, he's going to need jackets, sweatshirts. He also lost all his personal belongings his toys, his books. He has nothing."

For the rest of the family they are asking for gift cards to places like Wal-Mart, Target and Giant Eagle to help with everything from clothing to food.

And to address long term needs, the Hayward Family Fund has been set up at First National Bank.

"And that's to really help them with everything, funeral expenses, to what's going to happen, where are they going to live," says Rosenthall.

RELATED LINKS:
2 Children Dead After Greenfield Fire (10/12/12)
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