Clearfield Supports Mother Following Tragic Loss
Many businesses in Clearfield have been finding various ways to support Stephanie Brink who lost two teenage sons and her home in a fire on Jan. 28. The Gunpowder Grille is hosting a benefit spaghetti dinner on Sunday, Feb. 16. Tickets are available at Bob’s Army & Navy store, Country Butcher, Clearfield Revitalization Corp. and Houtzdale Moose Lodge and cost $12. The meal includes DelGrosso spaghetti, meatballs, salad, a roll and dessert. (Photo courtesy of Gunpowder Grille)
By Julie Rae Rickard
CLEARFIELD – After a Clearfield woman lost both of her sons and home in a tragic fire, the grieving neighborhood began planning various ways to help her.
The Lawrence Township Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to the fire on Brown Street around 1:00 a.m. Jan. 28. When the firefighters arrived the “residence was well involved in fire”, state police reported.
A 17-year old boy and a 16-year-old boy were trapped on the second floor while their mother was able to escape. Because of the heavy winds that night, the fire was difficult to contain, according to media reports.
Police say the cause of the fire is undetermined and the investigation is continuing.
The next day a prayer vigil was held at the Clearfield County Courthouse with about 200 people in attendance.
Quickly area businesses began accepting donations of both money and clothes for the grieving mother, Stephanie Brink.
Toni Frankenfield of The Rock on the River (the old Clearfield County Jail) posted on their Facebook page, that the quickest way to donate to help Stephanie is Paypal which sends money directly to her. You can do this by using Stephanie’s email, sbrink427@gmail.com. (Please note it is in the name of her late husband, Ron, who died of cancer in 2022.)
Other than that Toni suggested that gift cards for businesses such as Walmart are the best options because Stephanie can then buy whatever she needs most. Toni is accepting donations at The Rock on the River on South Second Street from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
“I ask all the cash donations and cards of any type be sealed in an envelope as she (Stephanie) will be the only one opening them,” Toni noted.
For household items, furniture or other donations, one of Stephanie’s neighbors is providing a storage unit at the corner of Wrigley and Brown St. For more information on that, call 814-577-9074.
Groups are also planning benefit dinners. One of these will be held Sunday, Feb. 16 by the Gunpowder Grille.
“On Tuesday morning, I had noticed on Clearfield Live the devastating news of the Clearfield fire. As a mom of three boys, and two of which are in the Houtzdale Ramey Fire Company it tore my heart up more,” said Marissa Ralston, partner in the business.
She realized, as many others had, that this was a time for the community to come together to help.
Marissa reached out to Stephanie Kline, owner of Bobs Army and Navy and one of their partners, suggesting a spaghetti benefit dinner.
“We contacted DelGrosso’s through a great friend that works there to order the spaghetti, initially for 240 people, then contacted Sue Diehl who received a donation from the Clearfield Wrestling Club of spaghetti and sauce, so we increased that number.
“The former owner of Ethans, Thad Durant currently with Curtze Food service is assisting as well as Zach with US Foods, the Houtzdale Moose, The Progress, staff at Clearfield Revitalization Corp., Mid Penn Bank Manager Lisa Jordan and countless others.”
This includes Jason Gill from Country Butcher, Izen at Blue Moon Media & Marketing and Clearfield Wholesale Paper which all agreed to provide more of the items needed for the dinner.
A bake sale and basket raffle is now also planned for that day.
In case you want to help by purchasing a meal but don’t really want it, you can donate it and Little Red Riding Hood, Inc. will deliver it to an area senior.
“I literally am overwhelmed with how this has shaped together and how community comes together to support someone in need,” Marissa said.
Because of the large amount of donations for the meal, all of the money raised will go to Stephanie.
“We have a goal of selling over 400 meals, and I honestly expect we are going to exceed that number,” Marissa said.
The tragedy has also inspired the Clearfield Fire Department to provide free smoke alarms for every family through the American Red Cross’s S.A.F.E. Program. In addition, fire departments in Lawrence Township, Hyde, and Curwensville’s Rescue Hose & Ladder Company will be doing the same in their areas. They will be going door to door offering the devices.
If you have questions, call the Clearfield Fire Department Assistant Chief Brett Collins at 814-765-4861; LTFD Assistant Chief Steven Smith at 814-765-8683; Hyde VFD Deputy Chief Randy Powell at 814-592-3302 or Curwensville’s Fire Chief Shawn Fye at 814-236-2960.
If anyone wants to help with monetary donations for the program, they can do so by giving to the “Smoke Alarm Program” account at CNB Bank in Clearfield.
(NOTE: Both Gunpowder Grille and The Rock on the River are new businesses in Clearfield and currently only doing special events. They both plan to open later this year.)