A Port Allen family of seven lost everything in a house fire on Louisiana Avenue on Tuesday, and the community is already stepping up to help them rebuild.

The West Baton Rouge Fire Department said firefighters and EMS responded to the manufactured home and quickly contained the blaze, preventing further damage to the structure. No one was injured.

But while the family escaped safely, they lost their home and all of their belongings.

The family's roots in West Baton Rouge run deep. The mother, Vicki, is a 2009 Brusly High School graduate and former clinic teacher at Caneview. Her own mother also came through Brusly. The couple's five children — ranging from toddler to high school age — attend schools across the parish, including Port Allen High School, Cohn Intermediate, and Port Allen Elementary.

A friend of the family has organized a GoFundMe fundraiser and is collecting donated clothing and toiletries for the children. According to a flyer being shared by friends and family, the immediate needs include clothing in specific sizes for all five children and basic toiletries.

Kennedii, a student at Port Allen High, needs tops in 1XL, pants in size 18, and shoes in 11W. Legend, who attends Cohn Intermediate, needs tops and bottoms in 10/12 and shoes in 6 1/2. Ellie, at Port Allen Elementary, needs tops and bottoms in 7/8 and shoes in kids' size 2. The two youngest, Marcel and Maci, need clothes in 4T and 2T and shoes in 9C and 6C.

Raven Dunlap, a close friend of the family who organized the fundraiser, said the family has always been there for the community.

"She loves and gives back to this community, and I'm just looking for the community to do the same in response for her and her family," Dunlap said.

The family is also accepting household items as they work to rebuild, including furniture, small appliances, kitchen items, storage solutions, cleaning supplies, and home décor.

Anyone who would like to help can visit the GoFundMe page or contact Dunlap through the fundraiser for information about donating items.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-vicki-marks-family-rebuild-after-fire