Community Donates Christmas Gifts For Family Whose Home Burned Down

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A family of 8, left with nothing after fire destroyed their home on Thanksgiving, will have a much better Christmas.

Their community came together to make sure the children and their parents would all have gifts.

Santa may not have come down the chimney at the Donegal Holiday Inn, but he sure did show up to give Dave and Amanda Rugg and their six kids a merry Christmas.

"It's a wonderful feeling on Christmas Day to help a homeless family be able to celebrate even though they may not be in the comfort of their own home," said Tim Pisula, general manager of the Holiday Inn.

For the past month, the Connellsville family has been living at the hotel after they lost their home on Thanksgiving to fire.

The Rugg children, all under the age of 13, have become like family to the hotel employees. A week ago, a contractor working on the Holiday Inn pool decided to help give the Ruggs a good Christmas, after one of the kids struck up a conversation with him, telling him about their situation.

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A post to a Ligonier Facebook community page asking for donations for the Rugg family proved successful with several fundraisers to raise money for the entire family to have presents.

"Literally within a few days' time, we were able to deliver literally two or three pick-up truck loads of gifts for them," Pisula said.

Debbie Adams, a housekeeper at the Holiday Inn, says she even put her holiday bonus toward the effort.

"It is better to give than receive," she said. "They've had some hardships, so it's a pleasure to put a smile on their face."

And those smiles were out in full force Christmas morning with Santa helping the very special delivery. And for the Ruggs, the generosity of the Fayette County community has made a tough situation a little better.

"When you're little, you can't wait for Christmas," Amanda Rugg said, "but when you become a parent, that makes it even better. There's nothing that tops watching your children on Christmas morning … I'll never forget this Christmas."