Fundraisers Launched For Stafford Family After House Fire

STAFFORD, NJ — A destructive house fire on Friday has left a Stafford Township family without a home or any personal belongings.

Rebecca Gee has organized a GoFundMe page to help the Cruz family after their South Union Street home was destroyed.

“The money, gift cards, etc. will help them have rental deposits, a few months’ rent and replace/pay for necessities without putting too much burden on the relatives they are staying with currently,” said Gee.

The family of five is currently staying with relatives, without much space for clothes or household item donations at the moment, Gee said.

Gee added that both Max and Maggie Cruz were employees at the restaurant Scojo’s in Beach Haven, which recently closed after a fire damaged the building on Jan. 21.

Reynold’s Garden and Floral Market Center is also collecting gift cards and cash donations for the family at their store, which is located at 201 East Bay Ave in Manahawkin.

“They have been left with absolutely nothing beyond the clothes on their backs,” Reynold’s Garden said on Facebook.

Click here to get Patch email notifications on this or other local news articles or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Follow Barnegat-Manahawkin Patch on Facebook. Have a news tip? Email kimberlee.bongard@patch.com.