MIDDLEBURG — Just two months ago, the Benfer family couldn’t imagine this day would come.
On Friday, a crew of Frank Benfer’s co-workers and friends worked in the hot morning sun to place the family of seven’s new modular home on its foundation.
The family lost everything on the morning of May 8 when an explosion at the home they were renting touched off a fire that leveled the brick house at 5322 Troxelville Road in Port Ann. After living in a cramped three-room trailer for the past two months, Aimee Benfer said she and her husband and their five children are looking forward to having a place to call home.
“Being displaced has been very hard for us but today, knowing that we’re going to have a home is very calming. It gives us a peaceful feeling.” Mrs. Benfer said the loss of their home has brought their family closer together. “The kids have learned not to take things for granted. We’ve definitely become a closer family.”
In the months following the fire, the Benfer family said they received support from the community and even strangers who reached out to help them. “We’re just really appreciative for what everyone has done for us,” Aimee said. “The community around us has been wonderful. It’s been overwhelming and we are so happy and grateful to everyone. It’s been absolutely amazing.”
Frank Benfer was among the group of men working on the house Friday. He said they were able to move forward on finding a home much sooner than he had thought and plan to be completely settled in a couple of months. “We’ll be in the house before school starts. We’re finally getting somewhere.”
The home was provided at a reduced price to the Benfers by Icon Legacy previously known as Legacy Custom Modular Homes in Selinsgrove.
