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Matthew Talbot Alliston Herald

Canadian Tire in Alliston raised $3,500 for fire victims Tammy Maxwell and Tony Rodrigues recently. The family collected the cheque from the store Tuesday. Rodrigues, the couple's daughter Dennessa Gueran, Maxwell, Canadian Tire co-owner Debbie MacKenzie, Bob and Joan Nicholls (who have been housing the family since the fire) and employee Darlene Fenech are seen at the store.

Donations pour in for fire victims

Canadian Tire raises $3,500 for Maxwell/Rodrigues

BY Matthew Talbot, Staff January 13, 2010 19:01

Donations are pouring in for Tony Rodrigues and Tammy Maxwell.

After the couple's house burnt down on Concession 3 in Adjala-Tosorontio just before Christmas, things looked bleak, but "there's some light at the end of the tunnel," said Rodrigues.

The incredible donations of appliances, furniture and clothing, $2,150 in donations through a trust fund established by a neighbour and a recent contribution of $3,500 from the Canadian Tire in Alliston are helping the couple get back on their feet.

"We just want to say thank you to Canadian Tire," said Rodrigues. "There are a lot more thank yous to make."

Debbie MacKenzie, who co-owns the Alliston Canadian Tire with her husband David, said she read about the couple's plight in the newspaper.

"When I read about how they lost everything, we put some buckets out at the cash and the customers got involved," she said.

Customers donated about $850, staff and the MacKenzies augmented that and then Canadian Tire matched donations through its Foundation for Families program.

MacKenzie said her store has helped other families a couple of times in the past.

"I wanted to get on board and try to help them out," she said.

Bob Nicholls, who along with his wife Joan, has been sheltering Rodrigues, Maxwell and their daughter Dennessa Gueran while they look for a new home, said donations of televisions, beds, stoves, washing machines and dryers and fridges have been received.

One woman "saw what was needed and went to Barrie the next morning to buy them a new colour TV."

"There's still more furniture to come," said Joan Nicholls.

Meanwhile, MacKenzie offered to store any purchases the couple makes at Canadian Tire at the store until they find a new home.

"People have been so kind, that it gets easier as the days go by," Rodrigues said.

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