Community rallies to support Plum family after move-in fire

When Jamin and Bethany Gardner parked a box truck in the driveway of their new Plum home, the couple never imagined they would lose nearly all their possessions before they could even move in.

The Gardners, who were preparing to settle into a modest brick house on Garlow Boulevard on Monday, left the crowded U-Haul still packed in hopes of unloading in the coming days.

But Jamin Gardner, 26, said he received a call while at a relative’s house that evening saying the truck was ablaze.

When he arrived, he found that all but a few of the family’s possessions — including their clothes, furniture and keepsakes — were destroyed or badly charred.

Since then, Jamin; Bethany, 28; and their three sons, Lincoln, Hudson, and Atticus, have been doing the best they can, he said. The boys range in age from 1 to 5 years old.

No one was injured in the fire, though the house sustained some minor damage.

Jamin said he’s not sure what caused the fire.

Unity Volunteer Fire Department Chief PJ Mudar III said the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the incident.

When Bethany Gardner’s sister, Sarah Johnston, awoke Tuesday to texts from several family members about the fire, she immediately jumped into action. Within hours, Johnston organized a GoFundMe fundraising campaign for the couple.

A day later, with more than 100 donations and more than half way to her goal of $24,000, Johnston said the community support shows the family moved to the right place.

“When people need help, there’s good neighbors,” she said.

For the Gardners, the move is more of a homecoming.

Jamin and Bethany were raised in Plum but had moved away to pursue ministry work in Ohio and West Virginia.

The family chose to return to Plum to begin their own ministry, called Neighbors Church, Jamin said.

He plans to launch the church, part of the Pentecostal denomination Assemblies of God, next fall after developing a congregation.

Despite the circumstances, Bethany said she’s glad to be home and thankful for the support.

Plus, she said, she managed to recover some of her boys’ blankets and some wedding memorabilia.

“We just feel really grateful and really blessed,” she said.