by Brent Frazier
PERRY COUNTY, Tenn. - A fire put a Perry County family of out of their home for the holidays, and now their community has rallied to support them.
The Pearl family of 12 lost the home they built by hand in a fire on December 7th and now have been forced to rely on the generous donations from friends and neighbors to get by.
Robert and Kathryn Pearl have 10 children, five of whom still live at home.
"When you lose everything, almost instantly, and you have to start from square-one again, you just - that's a transition that I'm not accustomed to," Pearl said at sunset Wednesday, clutching tightly the hand of his wife, Kathryn.
The Pearls' home on Russell Creek Road, right outside Lobelville, burned entirely around 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7. Neither Robert nor Kathryn was home, but three of their 10 children were present and had the forethought to call for help and evacuate immediately.
"There's nothing left," Kathryn said, standing on the rural, Perry County property she and her husband lived on, and raised their 10 kids on, the last decade.
The family is literally left with nothing.
"No shoes, no coats. And we lost everything," said Kathryn.
Given the remote location, and lack of water pressure, the Pearls were told by four insurance companies that their house was un-insurable, according to Robert and Kathryn.
That and the fact that, "Our main source of heat was a wood burning stove," Kathryn admitted.
Habitat for Humanity is paying to keep the couple, their five children still at home, and two grandchildren safe and sound inside the historic Commodore Hotel in nearby Linden, TN.
"Right now, if we weren't here, we'd be sleeping outside, I guess," Kathryn admitted from the warmth of her new, temporary quarters. "Or maybe in the vehicle."
Habitat, according to the Pearls, is also pledging to help by building a new house for the family on that same plot of land.
In the meantime, the family is in dire need of basically everything. A fund has been set-up at the Bank of Perry County, 33 South Main Street, Lobelville, TN, 37097.
Also, a page has been established on Facebook at "Pearl Family Fundraiser." Organizers say that same page also offers a method for cash donations.
NewsChannel 5 has listed their names, ages, and approximate sizes below, should any viewers opt to donate clothing:
- Hannah, age 25, a medium or size 10.
- Lydia, age 22, also a size 10.
- Ariel, age 19, a size 6.
- Son Asa, age 17, a size XL; and in pants, 36 waist, 34 length.
- Son Isaac, age 12, and a size 12-14, adjustable.
- Granddaughter Alana, age 5; a size 5.
- Granddaughter Sophia, age 3; a size 3.
email: bfrazier@newschannel5.com
