Delco woman receives helping hand after home burns down

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Sunday, December 3, 2017
Delco woman receives helping hand after home burns down
Delco woman receives helping hand after home burns down. Bob Brooks reports during Action News at 6 p.m. on December 2, 2017.

BOOTHWYN, Pa. (WPVI) -- A neighborhood in Boothwyn, Delaware County is rallying around a woman known for giving so much to her community.

It's been almost a year since Tiffany Lane lost her house to a fire.

This is not just some people with some tools, rebuilding a home, the work you see going on Saturday is much more important than that.

"They don't realize they saved my life," Tiffany said.

At times Tiffany was understandably emotional.

Tiffany and her kids, Richie and Addlena have been through rough times.

Her home in Boothwyn caught fire this past February.

Luckily, they made it out, but lost pretty much everything.

The family ended up living at a hotel and then ran out of money.

"When you have children and wondering where you're going to sleep, little food, little money, and you're wondering where I am going to go next with this," Tiffany said.

Well in desperation Tiffany called a former boss, Chris Malone for help.

He didn't hesitate to act for one of his favorite former employees.

"When I got the call from her in September when she was on the verge of sleeping in her van with her kids, I couldn't turn my head away," Chris Malone said.

He even told us Tiffany had built more than enough "good karma" over the years.

"Way back in 2004 and 2005, she was sending care packages to troops in Iraq and military bases around the United States," Malone said.

Over the last few months, while they rebuild, they've connected the Lane family with a random couple in Delaware who took them in.

"Dick and Linda Lawyer brought us into their home and we've been staying with them for the last 6 weeks," Tiffany said.

Action News asked Tiffany, did you know these people before hand? She responded, "We did not. We did not prior to this."

With Malone as the coordinator, so many local contractors, churches, volunteer groups, and even the kids have chipped in to restore what they lost.

But they need more help moving forward.

"We still need building material, skilled labor to get across the finish line," Malone said.

"It's like every prayer I have someone answers it immediately. So I'm so incredibly grateful," Tiffany said.

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