Donation protected
New London – An intentionally set fire that burned their apartment is just one in a string of recent setbacks for the Sands family, whose resiliency is once again being tested.
Charlie and Chelsie Sands and their two daughters, Danielle, 6, and Serina, 8, had found a bit of stability in October when they secured a lease to their modest apartment at 17 W. Coit St.
Charlie Sands set up a studio for his oil paintings while searching for other work. The kids settled into Jennings Elementary school. Chelsie Sands secured a job at Mystic Aquarium and was getting help with a medical condition from Sound Community Services.
The family previously had spent time at the Covenant Shelter following their move last summer to southeastern Connecticut, where work has not been as plentiful as they might have thought.
They had landed in Connecticut after leaving Estes Park, Colo., in the wake of devastating floods in 2013 that wiped out area communities and many jobs.
“We wanted a fresh start, a better environment,” Chelsie Sands said. “But tragedy seems to follow us.”
Early Thursday morning the family was running in slippers and bare feet for shelter at a neighbor’s home as firefighters fought to stop the flames from burning everything they owned.
The fire was started on the porch and was preceded by about an hour’s worth of banging at the door by a man yelling towards the apartment of the Sands’ upstairs neighbors
Chelsea Sands said the man said something to the effect of, “I’m gonna make you pay,” shortly before a bright light appeared on the front porch adjacent to the couple’s bedroom.
“I ran to the window, lifted up the curtains and saw the porch was on fire,” she said.
Chelsea notified the other tenants and called 911 while her husband started moving burning furniture off the porch. Charlie Sands said he realized quickly that the fire was already up the side of the home and moved back inside.
“I needed to take care of my family,” he said.
He woke his two daughters who he said thought they were being roused for school, and tried to track down the family pets.
Their cat, Misty, and pug-and-boxer mix named Monty made it out safe. Beethoven, a kitten, had run into the couple’s bedroom to hide during all of the commotion. New London firefighters pulled Beethoven from the debris, soaking wet and covered with soot but healthy.
The fire eventually burned the entire front portion of the home, engulfing the couple’s bedroom.
“The scary thing is that used to be my daughters’ room,” Chelsea Sands said. “We had switched rooms recently. I’m just glad I was in that room that night.”
Immediately after the fire the Red Cross put the family up for a night at a local hotel. Chelsea Sands said she was in sopping wet slippers when she walked to the Burlington Coat Factory to purchase clothes for everyone.
The family is unsure of the future but already thankful for small gestures by members of the community.
The family shared a pizza on Friday, donated by Ocean Pizza owner Sam Vafidis - who also added $50 worth of gift certificates upon hearing their plight.
Dawn Frechette, a nurse who met and befriended Chelsie Sands at Sound Community Services, said the family’s story is heart wrenching.
“Everyone in the world deserves a chance, a real good start, and not all of us have that opportunity,” Frechette said. “These two young people have been hit by tragedy over and over. They struck me as good, strong, hardworking people and walking around with a cloud behind them. They want a fighting chance.”
Frechette is intent on helping to set up an account for the family to accept donations. She expects that fund will be set up by next week. She said anyone interested in helping the Sands family may contact her by email at [email redacted].
[email redacted]
Twitter:@SmittyDay
Charlie and Chelsie Sands and their two daughters, Danielle, 6, and Serina, 8, had found a bit of stability in October when they secured a lease to their modest apartment at 17 W. Coit St.
Charlie Sands set up a studio for his oil paintings while searching for other work. The kids settled into Jennings Elementary school. Chelsie Sands secured a job at Mystic Aquarium and was getting help with a medical condition from Sound Community Services.
The family previously had spent time at the Covenant Shelter following their move last summer to southeastern Connecticut, where work has not been as plentiful as they might have thought.
They had landed in Connecticut after leaving Estes Park, Colo., in the wake of devastating floods in 2013 that wiped out area communities and many jobs.
“We wanted a fresh start, a better environment,” Chelsie Sands said. “But tragedy seems to follow us.”
Early Thursday morning the family was running in slippers and bare feet for shelter at a neighbor’s home as firefighters fought to stop the flames from burning everything they owned.
The fire was started on the porch and was preceded by about an hour’s worth of banging at the door by a man yelling towards the apartment of the Sands’ upstairs neighbors
Chelsea Sands said the man said something to the effect of, “I’m gonna make you pay,” shortly before a bright light appeared on the front porch adjacent to the couple’s bedroom.
“I ran to the window, lifted up the curtains and saw the porch was on fire,” she said.
Chelsea notified the other tenants and called 911 while her husband started moving burning furniture off the porch. Charlie Sands said he realized quickly that the fire was already up the side of the home and moved back inside.
“I needed to take care of my family,” he said.
He woke his two daughters who he said thought they were being roused for school, and tried to track down the family pets.
Their cat, Misty, and pug-and-boxer mix named Monty made it out safe. Beethoven, a kitten, had run into the couple’s bedroom to hide during all of the commotion. New London firefighters pulled Beethoven from the debris, soaking wet and covered with soot but healthy.
The fire eventually burned the entire front portion of the home, engulfing the couple’s bedroom.
“The scary thing is that used to be my daughters’ room,” Chelsea Sands said. “We had switched rooms recently. I’m just glad I was in that room that night.”
Immediately after the fire the Red Cross put the family up for a night at a local hotel. Chelsea Sands said she was in sopping wet slippers when she walked to the Burlington Coat Factory to purchase clothes for everyone.
The family is unsure of the future but already thankful for small gestures by members of the community.
The family shared a pizza on Friday, donated by Ocean Pizza owner Sam Vafidis - who also added $50 worth of gift certificates upon hearing their plight.
Dawn Frechette, a nurse who met and befriended Chelsie Sands at Sound Community Services, said the family’s story is heart wrenching.
“Everyone in the world deserves a chance, a real good start, and not all of us have that opportunity,” Frechette said. “These two young people have been hit by tragedy over and over. They struck me as good, strong, hardworking people and walking around with a cloud behind them. They want a fighting chance.”
Frechette is intent on helping to set up an account for the family to accept donations. She expects that fund will be set up by next week. She said anyone interested in helping the Sands family may contact her by email at [email redacted].
[email redacted]
Twitter:@SmittyDay
Organizer and beneficiary
Dawn Frechette
Organizer
New London, CT
Charlie Sands
Beneficiary