CRITTENDEN, Ky. (Brad Underwood) - Eight days after losing almost everything to a house fire, the Jones family is close to moving under one roof again. The family of nine was burned out of their home on Gardnersville Road, and soon eight of them will move into a home a few minutes away.
Since the fire, the outpouring of support has been overwhelming, but the biggest and best gift: a new home from a man Ed Jones ran into at a gas station.
"He had seen the news and he said 'I've got a washer and dryer for you if you would like it,'" Jones said.
Jones replied to the man, "'What I really need is a home. I've got the kids; I've got us; I've got eight people; we have to put in a house right now.' And he said, 'Well, come on outside and follow me down the road.'"
The home hadn't been lived in years and was a mess. Belongings were scattered everywhere, and portions of the home were taken over by wild animals, but that didn't stop Jones. The home would eventually be perfect after some cleaning and upgrades.
The soon-to-be-occupants will be Jones and his wife, five of the grandchildren and one of Jones' sons.
Ten-year-old Gabriel Taylor says his new home will be awesome.
"We've just been cleaning ever since we got it, and we took out the carpet and everything," said Taylor.
Taylor's two sisters are excited to have so much more room; the new house is twice the size of the previous.
"It's big enough space for everybody to live and for everybody to play in," said Jadelyn Taylor.
Six-year-old Ka'Leigha Robbins can't wait to build her giant puzzle with her siblings.
"I like it because it has big rooms in it that we can play in," said Robbins.
In almost every room there's something new to the family, a donation from a citizen of Grant County.
Bunk beds, couches, chairs, mirrors and dressers were all donated, all to help keep the Jones family together. That support truly moves Jones.
"Thank you everybody from the bottom of my heart for doing what you've done for me and my family, for keeping us together. It is really cool, really cool. "
Jones says at times the phone calls for support have swamped him because he just doesn't know exactly what they need. Jones says once they get inside he will have a better idea of what's needed. The family hopes to move in by the end of the month.
