BIG LAKE, Minn. — The Big Lake community is stepping up to help a grieving mother after her unimaginable loss.
Jessica Moffitt's two youngest children, Landon Parker, 2, and Spencer Parker, 1, died after a fire at their Big Lake home in April.
Authorities have said they believe the children's father started the fire.
"Everything was good and now she's [Jessica] just trying to keep breathing," said Kathy Tully, Jessica's mother, "You kind of lose who your daughter was, too, before it. So, not only do you lose your grandchildren, but you lose your daughter [who] was carefree and felt on top of the world."
Tully says while Moffitt mourns, she is also dealing with mounting bills. Tully says Moffitt plans on moving back into the home where the fire happened, and it needs significant repair. Until insurance steps in, Tully says Moffitt will have to cover the cost.
"Right now [the children] really would like to go home and she just said, 'I'm not taking anything else away from them,'" Tully said of Moffitt's decision to move back to the home, "Their life was built on two incomes. Just the house payment alone that she's continuing to make is more than she should be able to afford."
Tully says Moffitt is working two jobs to keep up, going back to work just two and a half weeks after her children died. Moffitt and her two surviving children are living with Tully for the time being.
"They were just happy, healthy, loving kids, and we miss them. A lot," Tully said of her grandchildren, "I just hope they have a new normal some day."
People in Big Lake are trying to help by holding two benefits for Moffitt.
"We're just trying to raise some money to help them restart their lives," said Lolli Krueger, owner of Third Rail Bar and Grill in Big Lake, which is hosting one of the benefits.
They've also set up an account at Wells Fargo for people to make donations.
Here's how you can help:
Monetary donations can be made at any Wells Fargo bank, made under the Tully-Moffitt Benefit.
- Saturday, June 8, 2019
- Registration: 10 a.m.
- Third Rail Bar & Grill
- 47 Lake Street South, Big Lake, MN 55309
- Silent auction: 3 - 5 p.m.
2ND BENEFIT:
- Up the Creek Bar & Grill
- 4246 112th St. NW, Silver Creek, MN 55358
- Saturday, June 23, 2019
- 12-6 p.m.
- Cash and gift cards accepted at the event.