CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. — After flames leveled the DePaolo family home on Orchard Lane in South Abington Township Sunday evening, Monday morning, the family business opened as scheduled.
"Well, when I first heard about it, I was called from the owner's mother and she was hysterical in telling me what happened," said waitress Roxanne Grizzanti.
The Silver Spoon Diner along South State Street in Clarks Summit is all the DePaolo Family has left after the blaze.
Making it an emotional day of work for their longtime employees.
"I immediately got emotional, excuse me," said Grizzanti. "But and said, whatever I can do to help."
Rachel Saxton came in for her last shift before heading back to school.
"I just walked in and I saw my boss and I felt so emotional because I can't believe this has happened to him," said Saxton whose worked at the diner on and off for the last four years. "It was supposed to be a happy day here and it's turned out to be quite a sad one for all of us."
But despite the destruction, patrons and people from across the area are helping the family get back on their feet.
"I can relate to not having anything. Your home is gone, your clothes are gone, your furniture is gone. So I can definitely relate to that," said Raymond Vanyo of Exeter.
He lost everything when his home in Swoyersville was destroyed during the flooding of Agnes back in 1972.
While his order of three eggs over easy and scrapple is nothing too fancy he knows the money is going to support a family who needs it.
"You have to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and it's not the train," said Vanyo. "You have to stick together as a family and with your community."
An account to help support the DePaolo family has been set up at the PS bank in Clarks Summit.
Family members say the best way to support those affected is to visit the Silver Spoon Diner.