After a devastating fire destroyed the home of two beloved Iowa teachers, their students came together to help in a big way. Jennifer Ghelf and Dean Lange moved into a home in Norwalk last fall with their young daughter, Faith. Sadly, the family's home is a total loss, but thankfully, everyone, including their dogs, got out alive.
As word of the fire spread, former students came together to help the teachers who had impacted their lives. In a matter of days, they've raised thousands of dollars and given the family a glimmer of hope.
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The fire spread as cold weather plagued the area.
Lange had gone into town to get supplies for an upcoming robotics competition when he received a panicked call from his daughter, WOI reported. Faith and her mom were just about to go outside to shovel snow when she said she smelled smoke in the house. Ghelf went in to investigate and saw smoke pluming around the fireplace. She tried to smother the flames with a blanket, but it was no use. Ghelf grabbed Faith and the dogs, and they all ran out to safety.
Lange pulled up to the house as firefighters tried to extinguish the flames.
Sadly, WOI reported that they could not put the fire out in time, and officials deemed the house a total loss. It was a devastating blow to the family. Although they are grateful to be alive, the family must try to figure out how to move on.
"It's a lot," Ghelf said. "But because of all the support we have, whether we realized we had it or not, we're getting through it a day at a time right now."
The couple are beloved teachers in their community.
Ghelf is the choir director at Waukee South Middle School, and Lange is the engineering department lead at Valley High School. Together, they have affected the lives of dozens of teachers and thousands of students, many of whom wanted to help.
Ghelf's coworker, Katie Sullivan, created a GoFundMe account for the family.
It didn't take long for the donations to start rolling in.
As word spread, many former students offered to help. The GoFundMe set an original goal of $40,000 and has already surpassed that.
A former student wrote, "Jenn was my high school choir director and very instrumental in helping me to become who I am today. Jenn, I am so sorry to hear this happened and I am so glad you and your family are safe! I'm thinking about you. ❤️"
Another echoed the sentiment, commenting, "Ms. Ghelf is one of those teachers you remember long past graduation. She made us smile and laugh daily, and she always pushed us to grow our talents and be kind humans. Sending so much love to the whole family."
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The outpouring of love has touched the family.
Lange told WOI that the generosity of others has humbled him.
"We have our biological children, but we've also got thousands of other children that we would never turn away," Lange said. "We've said many times over, that you know if something were to happen to their family, they'd be living with us too. And so that just really hasn't changed."
The GoFundMe account remains open, and total donations continue to rise.
