To the Editor:

Kara and I (Matt) have recently had both the worst experience and some of the sweetest experiences as a result. Many already know we recently experienced a fire with significant damage to our home. We had been planning to hold our wedding with friends and family there this summer. What many are unaware of is the tremendous showing of support from the local community.

Within hours of our tragedy, we were fortunate to have friends like Meghan Germain of Plattsburgh, drive out with clothes and other necessities. Kara’s family members, Kaytlin and Debbie Fedonick set up a GoFundMe and many donated out of the kindness of their hearts. Although I had only worked at Community Bank for a short time, the Potsdam Location held a dress down day to raise money for us and sent heartfelt concern. Kara was fortunate to have coworkers show love and charity at the St. Regis Mohawk School. St. Therese's SSPX Church & Priory provided a meal, clothes, and other assistance simply because they were asked by the Kellys. We began to know the true depth of love from our skating family, when Chastity Jock-Miller set about the remarkable task of preparing a Rock-n-Skate in our honor.

That Rock-n-Skate would prove to be very strong medicine. It was such a joy to watch the kids, many of whom had taken lessons from me or had been students in Kara’s library at school. We could not stop smiling as they were able to skate and just have fun. It really showed how the local skating clubs could come together and support each other as they often have in the past. Clubs that were represented were the Shamrock FSC, the Massena FSC, the Malone FSC, the Potsdam FSC, and the Norfolk-Norwood FSC to name a few.

All this is to say, thank you so very much. We are so grateful to have so many true friends, and likely wouldn’t know the depth of the community’s love, had it not been for this tragedy. Kara and I are so thankful for our community, our families and for those individuals who chose to help when they saw a need. We will be sure to pay it forward when we can. Whether we can repair or are forced to rebuild, you all helped build our home.

Matt and Kara Grant
Potsdam