PULASKI, PA. Donations pour in for fire victims

A public service is planned for 11 a.m. Tuesday at Mercer Livestock Auction.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
PULASKI, Pa. -- When David and Janet Ryder put the small glass jar near the cash register of their New Wilmington restaurant, they thought customers might want to put in some change to help the Amish family who lost five children in a fire Tuesday.
Instead, the jar has been filling up with $5, $10 and $20 bills.
"The customers are all leaving something behind," said Janet Ryder, who owns Ryder's Restaurant at Pa. Route 18 and Route 208 with her husband.
Other collections
Other shops, restaurants and stores, as well as a bank fund at First National Bank of Slippery Rock have been set up to help Rudy and Lizzie Wengerd, an Old Order Amish couple, and their four surviving children.
"Our people in the New Wilmington office have been very busy today answering the phone and trying to accommodate people's inquiries about the fund. People are even calling asking to donate building materials," said Dale Wimer, vice president of First National Bank of Slippery Rock.
The Wengerds, who lost everything Tuesday night, and their four surviving children -- Anna, 16; Gideon, 15; Danny, 9; and Emma, 5 -- are staying with Mrs. Wengerd's mother, Anna Mast, less than mile from their former home.
Another daughter, Katie, 14, and four boys, Levi, 12; Neil, 11; John, 4; and Jonathon, 2, perished in the blaze, which has been ruled accidental. Pennsylvania State Police said it started sometime around 10 p.m. Tuesday in or near a wood- and coal-burning furnace.
Funeral is Saturday
A funeral for all five children is planned Saturday at a relative's home nearby. Old Order Amish do not use churches or other buildings for their religious services, but, instead, gather at the home of a family member or friend.
By Thursday afternoon, Amish family and neighbors had cleared away most of the fire debris and filled in the former basement with dirt.
Work on a new house is expected to start Monday in a spot not far from the original house, said Neil Miller, Rudy Wengerd's first cousin. Blueprints for a new house were already being drawn up, he said.
Donations for everything from flooring to windows and other building supplies came in throughout the day, said Gail Phillips, a non-Amish friend of the family.
Phillips' husband, Scott, and Amish man Wally Byler set up the trust account at First National Bank of Slippery Rock for the Wengerd family.
Members of the Amish community also rallied around the family with clothing and other items shortly after the fire, said Miller, who gave the children boots from his own harness shop a few miles from their home.
The outpouring of help is coming from all members of the community and elsewhere.
Help from afar
Trish Loomis, owner of the Mercer Livestock Auction where Rudy Wengerd works as a head yardman, said calls have come from across the country from those wanting to donate.
"I just had a person from Maryland call," she said. "He said 'Prayers weren't enough' and he wanted to send a check."
Loomis said a public service for the dead children is planned for 11 a.m. Tuesday at the auction house before the auction begins. They also will be collecting supplies for the family on Monday night and throughout the day Tuesday, Loomis added.
cioffi@vindy.com