Community “Change” Helps Local Fire Victims

             On Thursday, February 20 at about 6 PM, Marlene Krueger, who was visiting her daughter in Florida got a very disturbing phone call. It was her daughter, Bobbi Jo, who lived in an apartment in Marlene’s house.  Bobbi Jo was calling to say the house was on fire and Marlene needed to come back to Oconto Falls right away.
Today, the house in which Marlene and her husband Bob (who passed away in 2005) raised their three daughters is a total loss. While she is shifting through and saving whatever mementos she can find, there are many years worth of memories that she will never see again. 
Thank goodness, Bobbi Jo and her daughter Karley, were not home at the time the fire started but came home to a house filled with smoke. They managed to save the two dogs, Tia and Prissy, call the fire department and get out.
Just a few days later Community “Change” board member, Denise Langlay, had the pleasure of presenting a check to Marlene for $500.  Marlene is extremely grateful not only to Community “Change” but to everyone who has been so generous.  “There sure are lots of good people in this world. They are coming out of the woodwork to help me and many don’t even know me,” exclaims Marlene.
Helping Marlene and her family get back on their feet is just one of ways Community “Change” makes a difference.  Members of Oconto Electric Cooperative can choose to round up their electric bill to the next whole dollar and the extra money goes into the Community “Change” fund which donates the money to people like Marlene.
If you don’t donate to Community “Change”, please consider it.  If you choose to have your bill rounded up, you give an average of $6 a year.  You can also choose to increase that amount by donating an additional amount like $1, $5 or $10 monthly.  Also ask your friends and neighbors if they donate to Community “Change”.  

Caption for photos:  Community “Change” volunteer board member Denise Langlay (left) and Marlene Krueger, along with Prissy, Marlene’s dog, who managed to survive the fire.

Fire damage to the Krueger home.  The house was a total loss.