Newspaper gift fund will go to family who lost everything

The St. Charles Herald-Guide has chosen to give the money collected from their Christmas Gift Fund this year to the family of Orvette Smith, who lost everything when their home was completely destroyed by fire in November.

The Herald-Guide will match the total money collected by Dec. 22, so there’s still time to give to the fund.

Firemen were never able to determine what caused the Smith house to burn to the ground in a matter of hours because nothing was left.

Orvette, who has worked at both Destrehan High School and J.B. Martin as a beloved custodian 15 years, built the house where his extended family, including 10 children, lived.

It’s been two weeks since Smith arrived home from work and the children arrived home from school at 925 E. Terrace to discover that flames had engulfed their home and destroyed everything, they own.

“We travel from place to place looking for a hotel for the night,” Smith said. “Our home wasn’t insured so it’s been difficult.”

Smith says the 10 children, who once lived in the home, are having some difficulty adjusting to this new way of life.
“The kids tell me that they just want to go home,” he said. “Every morning when they have to catch the bus in front of the house it’s hard on them and me, just looking at what use to be.”

The Smith family has been blessed so far by the kindness of church groups, schools, friends they know and even people they’ve never been in contact with before.

“The parish cleared the land for us and that’s good because, it helps when we get ready to re-build the house,” he said. “It would be nice for the family to be in a home, even if it’s temporary, to have a home-cooked meal in time for Christmas.”

The children’s clothes, shoes, everything they owned along with the adults’ belongings need to be replaced.

People who would like to help the Orvettes can donate to the Herald-Guide Christmas Gift fund. Cans are located at retail shops throughout the parish. We will have a table set up outside of the Wal-Mart in Boutte on Saturday, Dec. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The family also has a donation account with the First National Bank in Boutte to help with the recovery effort.

“We won’t get back our fond memories that we had in the home, but maybe we can get enough money to make a nice Christmas for the children,” Smith said.