WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WKBW) — Earlier this week, Anne Marie Blum answered a phone call from one of her sons that would change her life.
"He's like, 'The house is on fire.' I could tell by the shakiness in his voice that it wasn't just a little flame over the stove," said Anne Marie. "It was catastrophic."
Insurance agents estimate the damage to the house on Forestview Dr. in Williamsville at $800,000.
Anne Marie and her husband, Christian, are both educators at various institutions in the Western New York region.
"My college degrees were burned up. My dissertation was burned up. A lot of the books that we have accumulated over the years were burned up," Christian said.
However, this tragedy has risen from the ashes and turned into an opportunity for the community to show what it means to be the "City of Good Neighbors."
Aspen Kropidlowski, a student of Chirstian's at Canisius University, immediately jumped into action when she heard the news.
"As soon as he said something, I'm like, 'I want to do something. I want to help him out,'" Kropidlowski said.
After getting approval from Canisius faculty and Christian himself, she created a GoFundMe page to help raise money for the family of seven.
"I feel like he told us [about the fire] not to have the students worried or concerned about what happened but more so to let us know that it might take him a little longer to grade things," Kropidlowski said.
Christian showed up to class the day after his house was filled with flames. Kropidlowski says this dedication is what inspired her to start the fundraiser.
"He told us that he had to go out to the store and buy clothes so he could wear something to school that day," Kropidlowski said.
And Kropidlowski isn't the only one offering a hand.
"Our two-year-old turns three tomorrow," said Anne Marie. "Moms got gifts, wrapped them, gave us cards, and said, 'Just fill out the card.'"
The Blums say support has been pouring in from Canisius University, Niagara University, Bryant and Stratton College, and McKinley High School — just to name a few.
They also say co-workers, friends, family, and even strangers are stepping in to help.
"Neighbors just started showing up with food," said Anne Marie. "This one mom and two little boys, we don't even know them, brought Goldfish [Crackers] and Gatorade for the kids."
While this tragedy takes a toll, the Blums say they see it as the glass half full.
"It reinforces your faith in humanity," Christian said. "For me as an educator, it's a teachable moment. I hope the majority of the students I work with this week get that out of this."
"I can't say enough thank you-s," said Anne Marie. "I don't think I'll ever stop saying thank you."
If you'd like to donate to the Blum family, click here for Kropidlowski's GoFundMe page or here for a Venmo link.
