GoFundMe page has raised more than $25,000 for Canton family who lost home in March fire

CANTON, Mo. — Nobody experiences life without loss, but the support of our community and those closest to us helps us get through those times.

Luke and Audrey Barton lost their house in Canton in a fire on March 20. The building and everything inside was lost, including the family’s pets.

Andrew Redmon, Audrey Barton’s brother, didn’t know what to do shortly after the fire consumed his sister’s family’s home.

“You feel helpless, and you’re just trying to think of anything you can do to help them feel normal,” Redmon said.

Redmon mentioned remembering he had grabbed a sweatshirt to bring for the family. It was cold, and he wanted to contribute any way he could.

It was a small gesture, but Redmon and his sister’s family would soon see that every small gesture goes towards the greater good.

Redmon started a GoFundMe page for his sister and her family after their house burned down. 

“It was the only thing I could think of to be helpful,” he said. “I can’t magically make their home reappear, so starting a fundraiser was the closest thing I thought I could do to help try to bring a smile to their face.”

Redmon’s GoFundMe for his sister’s family has raised more than $25,000 for the family to help them pay for food, clothing and anything else they may need in the aftermath of the fire.

“I just keep getting blown away from all the support in this community that I live in,” Redmon said.

Support from the GoFundMe page began pouring in. People left comments with their donations, sending prayers and wishes of hope to the family. The donations themselves were very generous. Donations as big as $500 — and even a $1,000 donation — were given to the family through their GoFundMe page.

Audrey Barton’s social media presence brought in support as well. She writes posts about intentional living techniques on her Organized Chaos accounts, which can be found on most social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

People who only know Barton and her family through social media have donated to the GoFundMe page, left well-meaning messages on her various social media pages.

Support doesn’t just come from the people physically close to us. Barton and her family touch the lives of people on several social media platforms. They have shown that support comes from every walk of life.

The Barton family’s future plans are uncertain. However, the generous support of their communities, both online and living around them, have helped make it a little bit less scary.

Noah Klauser is a Quincy native and a Culver-Stockton College student serving as an intern for Muddy River News during the spring semester.