Fire Burns Former Scotch Plains Family's Home, Fundraiser Started

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — The Witte family, longtime former Scotch Plains residents, need your help after a fire destroyed their rented home in New York.

Will Witte, his mother Marilyn, and his 1-and-a-half-year-old son Nehemiah, lived in Scotch Plains for two decades until last July. Will moved to Stamford, New York for work and his mother followed in February.

In April, the kitchen caught fire and Will tried to put it out but there was no fire extinguisher to be found. Will took the baby and their dog out of the house right away and tried to go back in for their cats but they were all hiding, said Witte's sister Jessica Dyer.

The fire department was able to put the fire out, and thankfully all three of their cats were accounted for. The home, however, is too damaged for them to return to.

"Sadly they were forced to leave the cats behind because the family member they are temporarily staying with does not want them on her property. My mother is going back and forth to feed them because she can't find fosters to care for them until they find a place. They are stuck in the house covered in soot," said Dyer.

Currently, Marilyn is on disability with multiple ailments and Will is unemployed and they are struggling to find affordable daycare for Nehemiah so he can go back to work.

Dyer said the family essentially has to "start over" because most of their belongings such as clothes and furniture were damaged by the fire.

Dyer started a GoFundMe to help them with these expenses.

"They will need money to survive until they find a new apartment and to help purchase new clothes and things for the baby, said Dyer. "Red Cross gave them some toiletries and a prepaid card for $500 but that will not go very far. No amount is too small. Anything will be helpful to get them back on their feet."

For more information or to donate to the Witte family visit the GoFundMe page here.

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