Community Rallies To Boost a Family's Future

The Rockwood Summit Falcon Football Boosters organization sponsored a barbecue fund raiser Saturday on the high school grounds, but there was a higher purpose for those who showed up to cook up the bratwurst, ribs, and chicken that was part of the menu.

The booster club also was raising money and collecting supplies for two Fenton families who recently suffered tragedies. The barbecue event was a way for them to show their support.

"If anyone knows Falcon football, they know we believe in one another and we believe in the community," said Donna Woodland, co-president of the booster organization. "As a community, Fenton is the best."

The other booster club co-president, Patty Brinker, who is "best of friends" with Woodland, suffered a house fire Wednesday afternoon. Not only did Brinker alert Woodland to the fire as soon as she was informed of the occurence, Woodland rushed to the Brinker home as soon as she heard the news to make sure everyone was alright.

And everyone was. Her six children were able to get out of the house in time, as did her husband, Alex. The house, however, suffered major damage, with the kitchen and garage completely ruined and the remainder of the home unlivable. The fire, Brinker said, apparently started in a pile of firewood and spread to some dry leaves.

The Brinker family -  Patty, dad Byron, and children Liza and Clayton, who attend Xavier, an 8th grader at ; and Max and Alex, a freshman and junior respectively at -  are now staying in three rooms at a nearby hotel. They hope to move into a rental house soon, as it is expected to be several months before their own home can be rehabilitated.

Meanwhile, their friends have come to the rescue with money, gift cards, supplies and moral support until they are back on their feet.

Patty Brinker was at Saturday's barbecue filling meal orders and conducting a bit of booster club business.

"It's really quite heartwarming," Brinker said, nearly choking up at the show of community support. "We'll be OK after this. Everyone got out safe."

Brinker saved much of her concern and worry for another booster club family - the Greenwalds. Cole and Drew Greenwald are Summit students who are part of the football program. They lost her mother recently and are, Brinker said, "still trying to pull it together."

"It's really heartwrenching for those two boys," she said, passing off her own tragedy as "something that's over with."

"The kids are OK," she said." They're back to school. "Right now we just miss the normalcy of having a routine."

She said the children miss their video games and computer as the novelty of living in a hotel wears off. But, she said "We'll get through this."

The only injury sustained as a result of a fire was to one of the family's two Great Danes, Mia and Molly. At one point the dogs became excitable and were running around so much that Molly injured her leg. Both were at Saturday's barbecue, apparently with no ill effects, although Molly is expected to need an operation to repair knee cartilage.

For those who still would like to help the Brinker family though their post-fire experience, Woodland says donations, gift cards or supplies can be taken to the school office at Rockwood Summit High School.