Taunton rallies around families who lost everything in house explosion and fire: "Humanity is still there"

At Home Plate Bay Street Grill in Taunton, Massachusetts the community stepped up to help families devastated by a home explosion nearly two weeks ago.

Throughout the weekend, 20 percent of the tabs at the restaurant were donated to the families impacted by the February 25 explosion and fire on Plain Street.

"Whatever you buy, we give back 20% of your check to the actual families," Home Plate manager Courtney Draper said. "We care about the community and it was very tragic what happened with the fire and explosion, we just want to help."

Investigators said a natural gas explosion destroyed a three-family home.

Mother, daughter burned in Taunton explosion

Twenty-five-year-old Lucitha Blanc and her 2-year-old daughter Janelle were inside and seriously injured with what police called life-threatening burns. Some living nearby were not home at the time, but they lost everything they owned in the fire that followed the explosion.

"I'm a neighbor of theirs, I witnessed everything from the beginning to end, and I just wanted to, how can I jump in to help? So this is it," Taylor Brewer said.

Brewer organized a raffle at the restaurant featuring donated gift packages, which have already raised thousands of dollars for the families.

"They're all genuine good people. I cannot stress enough how good of people they are. They did not deserve this," Brewer said.

"Humanity is still there"

Among those affected was Sara Donovan, who lived on the top floor with her father. She was at work when the explosion happened.

"I don't like driving past it because it just reminds me that what was once there isn't there anymore," Donovan said.

Donovan said while their belongings are gone, she is grateful the situation wasn't worse.

"Stuff can be replaced, which is good. I'm just glad that everyone's OK, everyone's alive," she said.

For now, the displaced residents are staying with extended family while they work to rebuild their lives, encouraged by the support from neighbors and the broader community.

"It's beautiful to see the community come together," Donovan said. "Especially like in this time of the world and stuff like that. It's just nice to be able to see that the kindness is still there and the humanity is still there."