AURORA—When the Marmion community here learned that a fire that left the Freddy and Diana Vargas family homeless, they responded.

Freddy Vargas works in Marmion’s maintenance department.

The family was not home when the Dec. 6 fire started, according to a report in the Aurora Beacon-News. Father, Freddy, was at West Aurora High School with their 10-year-old daughter watching their 14-year-old daughter playing in a basketball game. Mother Diana was at work and their 19-year-old daughter was also out.

A neighbor broke into the house to save the family’s pet dog.

Marmion has already begun trying to replace material goods for the family.

“We are not doing one big fundraising event but many different things to help the family,” said Terri Rios, director of communications at Marmion Abbey and Academy.

The school has a monthly “civies” day where students pay a fee to come to school out of uniform.

“The student body decided that all proceeds raised from next Wednesday’s civies day will go to the Vargas family,” Rios said. “An email was also sent to the Marmion community encouraging them to give what they can above and beyond the civies day fee.

“The Academy will match the donations given by students, faculty (and) staff on next Wednesday’s Civies Day to give to the family,” Rios added.

Marmion Academy, at 1000 Butterfield Road in Aurora, has also become a drop-off point for donations  of clothing, toiletries, gift cards and money for the family.

“We will be accepting donations for as long as people want to donate,” Rios said.  

The school will be open through Dec. 22 and reopen Jan. 3. The main office will be open Dec. 27-29 and will accept donations there.

“Members of Marmion’s faculty and staff will be donating to the Vargas family instead of doing a ‘Secret Santa’ at our Christmas Party on Dec. 21,” Rios added.

Info: trios@marmion.org