Southworth house at Main and Prairie. G. Curry photo

The shocking aftermath of the Jan. 2 fire in the 4700 block of Main Street is plain to see: A burned-out shell of a house with boarded up windows, blackened siding and a gaping roof.

What isn’t so obvious is the huge outpouring of support that already is being extended to homeowner Beth Southworth and her two children. Within hours, friends, neighbors and residents who have never met the family were seeking ways to help.

I’ve written before on how caring this community is in times of challenge and crisis, but each time I see people reach out to those less fortunate, whether because of illness, hard times or a house fire, I count myself lucky to live here and also to be able to help where I can.

Earlier this week, board members of Helping Girls Navigate Adolescence Inc., offered a helping hand to one of our own whose house burned less than a week before Christmas.

The Southworth fire offers all of us another opportunity to be generous. April Marron is spearheading the collection of gift cards and clothing for the family, who lost everything in the blaze. They’re currently looking for Target, Jewel and other gift cards and clothing donations to provision Southworth, her 10-year-old daughter and her nine-year-old son. The boy wears size 10 or 12, the daughter wears women’s extra-small clothing and Southworth is a size 0.

Donations can be dropped off or mailed to Marron at 3780 Downers Drive, 60515.

“People have been so tremendously generous,” she said, adding that Mike Geisen of My Favorite Toy Store in Downers Grove invited the kids to choose whatever toys they wanted, so they are set for amusements.

Among the harder items to replace will be family photos and other keepsakes. Friends at Belle Aire school are combing through their pictures for ones that include the Southworth kids and the Panther Cheerleaders organization is replacing the daughter’s cheering trophies.

“There is nothing left,” Marron said.

Given the speed at which the house was engulfed, friends and family are thankful that it wasn’t more tragic. Southworth was able to rouse her sleeping children and get out of the house after the fire broke out about 11:15 p.m. Investigators believe the fire started when a curtain was ignited by a burning candle.

“She didn’t even think the fire was that bad at first,” Marron said. “She went back in to get the cat out from under a bed.”

Noting the two fires during comments at Tuesday’s village council meeting, Commissioner Sean P. Durkin urged residents to be careful. The season’s low humidity, dried-out evergreens, and fireplaces and candles are a dangerous combination, he said.