Donations being collected at the Meeting Place and Hometrust Bank

GREEN CREEK — A Polk County woman lost everything she had when her house burned just days before Christmas.

The home of Emily Skipper, of 8360 Highway 9 South in Green Creek burned last Friday.

Green Creek Fire Chief Jeremy Gregg said Polk County E-911 received a call of a structure fire on Dec. 21 at 11:35 a.m.

He said the Green Creek, Columbus and Mill Spring fire departments were originally dispatched to the scene and were then assisted by the New Prospect and Tryon fire departments.

“All possessions, clothing and the house were destroyed in the fire,” Gregg said.

The community is rallying to help Skipper, with donations being accepted at the Meeting Place in Columbus, as well as a bank account established at Hometrust Bank.

Anyone wishing to help Skipper can do so by donating money to the account at Hometrust Bank or by dropping off donations at the Meeting Place Senior Center, located at 75 Carmel Ln., Columbus.

Contact Senior Center Director Haley Suskauer at the Meeting Place at 828-894-0001 for more information.