Love for Lester

Fundraiser event, gofundme to help Inglewood man left homeless by fire

The daughter of a man who lost his home to fire - and almost everything he owned – is asking for the community’s help.

Lester Jackson’s home on Inglewood Road just north of Bridgetown caught fire late in the evening of June 3 and firefighters fought the stubborn blaze until past 3 a.m.

Kelly Amaro said her dad is a quiet guy who probably wouldn’t ask for assistance.

While the four walls remain, inside is a flame-charred, watersodden mess. There’s not much that’s salvageable and it will never be liveable again.

Anything that can be saved smells like smoke.

Lester Jackson stood on his front lawn and watched as firefighters attempted to cut through the roof to get at the flames. Crews from four fire departments were on the scene, along with paramedics, police, and Nova Scotia Power. Amaro said some wonderful people in the community are planning an auction, bake sale, and entertainment fundraiser for June 16 at 7 p.m. at the Bridgetown Legion.

Amaro and her siblings have set up a gofundme page, and via the online appeal are hoping to raise $25,000 to help their father get on his feet again.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the fundraiser in the form of items or baked goods can contact Krista-lynn Caldwell at 902-247-9956, or drop them off at The Meadows ARC. D’aubins Family Meats will be on hand selling sausages with all proceeds being donated. And they’re putting a side of pork on the auction block.

Monetary donations can be made at Scotiabank.

“Our father lost his home to a fire on June 3, 2018,” said Amaro on gofundme. “He’s ok. It’s devastating. It was the family home. Our great-grandmother raised her children there, as did my parents years later.”

Across from the church

The home stands just across the street from the church and across from Lester Jackson’s brother Tim’s house. Like his brother, Tim Jackson watched helplessly as the house burned.

Electrical wires had fallen across Lester Jackson’s car and were later removed by NSP and the vehicle was moved farther away from the house as the firefighters worked.

The home, set back from the street, wasn’t new by any means. It was part of Inglewood going back almost two centuries.

“Although changes were made to it, the home has been a fixture in the community … for almost 200 years,” Amaro said.

“Tough to think about for us all, and my dad especially.

See FUNDRAISER, A2