By Michael Benavides and Mark Rosman
Staff Writers
PLUMSTED – When a Plumsted family lost everything in a fire that destroyed their home, their neighbors in town and in surrounding municipalities responded with generous donations to help them in a time of need.
Fire broke out at the home on East Millstream Road, Plumsted, shortly after 4:30 a.m. Nov. 28, according to Chris Chaney, assistant fire chief of the New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company. He said the home was completely engulfed in flames when he arrived at the scene.
“The fire was not suspicious, but the cause of the fire is still under investigation” by the Ocean County fire marshal, Chaney said on Nov. 29.
No firefighters were injured battling the blaze and the five members of the Canto family, including children ages 1, 3 and 9, escaped the home without injury.
Almost immediately, friends and neighbors initiated efforts to help Matt Canto and his family.
“So I started a GoFundMe account with the hope of collecting monetary donations to help them with bills and to provide gifts for the children at Christmas,” she said. “As a community in Plumsted, we just wanted to come together and make things possible during such a devastating hardship.”
According to a message that was posted on the GoFundMe webpage, “The Canto family lost everything to a fire at their home … Collections of clothing, toys and personal items are being made, but Matt Canto is a Brother in Blue for the Department of Corrections … He is going to need replacement of all of his uniforms, boots and items needed by correctional officers on a everyday basis.”
Several days after the fire, Stepniewski’s online effort had raised almost $7,000.
Another person who immediately began an effort to assist the family was Mary Waskovich of Millstone Township, who grew up in Plumsted and said she has known Matt Canto for 30 years.
“I put a message (about the fire) on Facebook and that started a flow of non-stop donations. It’s been incredible. People have donated clothing, toys, even a crib,” Waskovich said on Nov. 30. “People want to help. They want to give, they couldn’t wait to give. A lot of people did not even know the family, but they wanted to help.”
Matt Canto, who said his family has lived in the East Millstream Road home for about eight months, thanked everyone who reached out during a time of need. He said his family is staying with relatives in Hamilton Township.
“The whole town has been amazing to us,” Canto said. “They provided us with clothes, toys and money.”
In addition to the New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company, the following fire units responded to the fire: the Cassville Volunteer Fire Company of Jackson, the Cookstown Volunteer Fire Company, the Hope Fire Company of Upper Freehold Township, the Millstone Township Fire Company, the Springfield Township Fire Company, the Chesterfield Fire Company, the Union Fire Company of Crosswicks and the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Fire Department. The New Egypt First Aid Squad and the Jackson Township First Aid Squad also responded, according to Chaney.
