02.15.08
10:05 a.m.

At the beginning of February, a Delhi family experienced the devastating loss of their home to an electrical fire. One of the family members, 12-year-old David LaJeunesse suffered from severe burns to approximately 35-percent of his body. He remains at Shriner’s Hospital in Sacramento for treatment and has already undergone at least one skin grafting procedure, according to a family friend. His parents are able to stay at the nearby Ronald McDonald House.

The family lost everything in the fire and many within the community have rallied to help them. High school students, including the Delhi Leo Club, have been working on collecting items for the family. Needs include clothing. In addition to his two parents, David has a three-year-old sister. They are collecting items for all four family members and monetary donations. In the future, the Leo Club will also collect household items and food.

The house on Letteau was destroyed by the fire that reportedly took firefighters about 15 minutes to put out. David was trapped in his room where he was rescued by firefighters. He reportedly survived by covering himself with a comforter or blanket, a safety tip he had recently learned at school. He is a sixth grader at El Capitan. In a recent online comment at another website, his father credited firefighter James Allen with saving the boy’s life and considers him a hero. Allen reportedly broke down the wall between the living room and bedroom to get to David and rescue him.

Another family lost their home to fire earlier this week. No one was injured. It has been reported that this family also is a sixth grader at El Capitan. Efforts are being made to help them as well.

Chris Rosenblad, a fifth grade teacher at El Capitan, said her class has decided to help in the efforts of aiding the two families. The class has been working on a cookbook. Once completed, they will sell it and 50-percent of the proceeds will go to assisting the two families. See The Delhi Express February edition or check back here for additional information.

For details on how you can help, e-mail The Delhi Express through the website or contact Leo Advisor Beth Gilbert at Delhi High School.

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Youth group leader Toni Maxwell has once again set the stage for a fun event to raise money for World Vision in an effort to fight worldwide hunger.

Beginning the evening of Friday, February 22, youth will gather at St. Francis and go 30 hours without food. The event kicks off with a trip to Boomers Friday night. The group typically does local ministry on Saturday. Then, Saturday night, Forgiven by Grace will perform a concert. This is the second year in a row that the band will play for the 30 Hour Famine event.

Participating youth will break their fast on Sunday morning at church.

Last year, Maxwell challenged the group to raise $5,000. The group met that goal and as a result, Maxwell kept her word and allowed them to choose a new hairstyle for her. She sported a mohawk and even stood in front of the Century 21 office where she works holding signs sharing why she was sporting the new ‘do.

This year, if the group raises $8,000, she has said that she will rent out LaserQuest for a night as their reward. In years past, the group has enjoyed kicking off the event with laser tag at LaserQuest in Modesto. To receive LaserQuest lockdown as this year’s reward will surely please the local youth.

This year’s motto: Be seen. Be Heard. Be Hungry.

For more information or to participate in this year’s 30 Hour Famine event, call Toni Maxwell at 988-4585.

St. Francis Church is located at 915 E. Main Street in Turlock.

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By now, you may have heard about the Delhi Unified School District Band. It includes members from the elementary schools and the middle school.

The band will host a Fill the Drum campaign at Saavedra’s Perfect Blend on Saturday, March 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Help support young, local musicians and show your support for the band by joining them for the special event.

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