Toye smelled smoke so she picked up the most valuable thing to her — her beloved cat Pumpkin — and ran down the stairs and out of the house. Lockport City Fire Department trucks were already on their way. As she went to move her car, she realized the keys were upstairs in her purse, so she went back in and grabbed it. By then, the fire was already spreading rapidly inside the back wall of the house, into the attic, and was raging right behind the wall at the top of her only exit. Luckily, Toye and Pumpkin made it out safely, but only with each other and the clothes on her back.
The list of things Toye owns now is pretty short:
- One cat, orange. Goes by Pumpkin.
- Clothes she was wearing last Sunday.
- Car.
- Purse.
Friends and family are hoping to fix that with a GoFundMe campaign aimed at raising $5,000 to get Toye the basic necessities to get back on her feet again. They’re also accepting donations of clothes, necessities and cash at Wrights Corners Fire Hall #3, 7103 Rochester Road. And they’re hoping someone will come forward with information on a new apartment that will accept her cat, preferably in the North End.
One final item: Toye celebrated her 79th birthday just two days after the devastating fire. No worries if you didn’t get her a gift. Hugs greatly appreciated. In fact, she keeps saying that’s all she needs.
RELATED LINK: GoFundMe Campaign for Kiki and Pumpkin
