A cherished business and popular wedding venue in Canterbury was damaged by a fire on Wednesday. But Saturday night Wrights Mill Farm sent a message: “We are unstoppable.”
On Saturday the community stepped up to help and D&G Pizza and Pub held a raffle fundraiser.
“They’re customers and they’re like a family to us,” says Demetrios Pasiakos, owner of D&G Pizza and Pub.
Those who showed up to donate included some people who had `worked at Wrights Mill.
“You try to be there for your friends,” says Mike Naborsky of Scotland.
Then there was eight-year-old Karlie Gauthier.
She was so motivated by the destruction she decided a gift from a recent birthday was needed elsewhere.
“I felt really bad. So I wanted to donate some money,” says Karlie Gauthier.
Karlie’s mother, Megan Gauthier, says the family was planning to have a special event at Wrights Mill in July. They’re hoping it can still happen there.
“If not it’s all obviously very understandable,” says Megan Gauthier of Moosup.
Despite the main building being gone at Wrights Mill, events go on there.
On Facebook, the business posted pictures from its first wedding since the fire on Saturday.
The staff wrote they hope to be at “100% by the end of the year.”
And they sent a message to the community: “Thanks for the all the support.”
“We hope he recovers quick and I think he will,” says Pasiakos.
D&G Pizza and Pub hoped to raise $2,000 with Saturday’s fundraiser.
It plans to keep donation jars out for a few more weeks to help Wrights Mill’s owners with expenses.
