BELLWOOD — The Bellwood community is pulling together to support a family after their home was ravaged by a fire on Sunday.

According to Leah Hostler, the fire began about 2 a.m. toward the back of the two-story home at South First Street and Martin Street.

Excelsior Fire Department, along with mutual aid fire companies, were dispatched to the scene shortly after the blaze was discovered, but the structure had already sustained substantial damage by the time they extinguished the blaze.

Hostler, her younger brother Ryan, father Ryan, stepmother Lisa and two stepsisters, Emma and Ella, have been staying with friends and family nearby since Sunday, she said.

According to Hostler, the family lost the majority of their possessions in the fire, as well as their three pet cats. Thankfully, their two dogs escaped unharmed, she said.

When Katie Grager, who lives down the street from the Hostlers, heard about the fire, she sprang into action.

Now, Grager has arranged a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to support the family.

The dinner will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. March 16 at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge on South First Street, Grager said.

There will be 350 tickets available, which can be bought over the phone from Grager or at the door on the day of the dinner.

All tickets will cost $12, with the proceeds going directly to the Hostler family.

Grager said she expects the tickets to sell out quickly, so potential attendees should call her at 814-381-4771 to reserve their tickets in advance.

In addition to the dinner, there will be a basket raffle during the event, with the proceeds added to the donation pool for the Hostlers, Grager said.

A fundraising campaign has also been started on GiveSendGo by family friend Nicole Wyandt.

In the post, Wyandt said Leah Hostler is a graduate of Bishop Guilfoyle High School who is enrolled at Penn State, University Park, College of Education. She is currently finishing out her junior year and, to be able to attend Penn State, lives with her family in Bellwood, commuting to school. She also works four jobs, Wyandt said of Leah Hostler.

Ryan Hostler is a recent graduate of Bishop Guilfoyle and is set to leave for Marine boot camp on March 17. “These would’ve been his last few weeks in his childhood home,” Wyandt stated in her post.

Emma and Ella, the two youngest, attend Bellwood-Antis, Wyandt said. They, too, lost everything in the fire.

Both Ryan and Lisa Hostler work full time, Wyandt added.

The Hostlers have been overwhelmed by the support they have been given by the Bellwood community, Leah Hostler said.

According to Hostler, nearly a dozen people showed up at their new makeshift residence the day of the fire to donate clothing and personal items.

“We’ve received lots of support from our friends and loved ones,” Hostler said. “I can’t even describe the feeling, we are so grateful.”

The GiveSendGo fundraiser can be found at https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18HN2nCDyn/.