An online fundraiser is rallying support for a father and daughter displaced by a house fire last week in State College.
The GoFundMe campaign is raising money for Joshua Kunkel and his 9-year-old daughter, Kiara, after a blaze at their home on the 1200 block of Old Boalsburg Road.
“While they are thankfully safe, their home was heavily damaged, and they are now facing significant upfront expenses as they work to replace essential belongings and begin rebuilding,” Kunkel’s sister and campaign organizer Jenna Gill wrote on the GoFundMe page.
The Kunkels’ two pet cats also perished in the fire.
Alpha Fire Company was dispatched to the house at about 8:20 p.m. on Jan. 28 after a caller reported flames coming from the windows. Crews encountered heavy fire on the first floor and transmitted a second alarm to bring Boalsburg Fire Company to the scene for assistance, Centre Region Fire Director Shawn Kauffman told StateCollege.com
The fire was knocked down quickly and contained to the first floor, which sustained heavy damage. The cause was under investigation, Kauffman said.
Since the GoFundMe campaign was created on Friday, it has raised $9,058 as of Monday afternoon.
Kunkel, a tattoo artist and co-owner of Ikonic Tattoo in State College, thanked the community for their “overwhelming support.”
“We are truly so grateful for each one of you as we work through the events that have unfolded over the course of the last week,” he wrote on Facebook. “… The outpour of love from the community does not go unnoticed.”
He also advised those who are sending him support via Venmo that his account is jfkart, noting that another account with a second ‘t’ at the end is not his.
Gill also voiced gratitude for the support shown to her brother and niece.
“It truly takes a village, and they are so grateful for theirs,” Gill wrote.
To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/support-for-joshua-and-kiara-after-house-fire.
