Friendship flowers after the student help employees to recover after the fire

Burlington, Vt. (WCAX) – students give back to those who help them.

The STARR Shover, employed by DINING Dining begins her day, as it is in Harris Millis Dining Hall for 31 years and ensures that the students are fed.

“I think it is important every day to start your day with a smile,” said Shover. But her smile became more difficult after the unimaginable was maintained on Christmas Day. She and her family lost their home through a fire.

“You know, I had a lot on my plate, but I come here, my children have my first priority. You know, I let my children get through and then Duncan came through, ”said Shover.

Enter: and much more Sophomore Duncan Starkenburg. “I go in and exactly on a keyword she is like 'Hey, how are you? How is your break? 'And I said, “My break was incredible, how about yours?” And it was a little hesitant, ”recalled Starkenburg.

“I said” now, you know, I'm not sure if I should talk about it, but “I said,” I know, you know, Christmas day, it burned down- my home. “My house, habitable,” said Shover.

“I knew I had to do something about it,” said Starkenburg. He immediately went to work to put together a fundraiser. “I know that there are enough people here in the community that have been touched by Starr so that we can get them back on their feet,” said Starkenburg.

Then he spread the floor. “I just sent it to a few of my friends. I posted it like Instagram in Snapchat Story, ”said Starkenburg.

It decreased quickly. “We had collected $ 500 within maybe an hour or two, and I was like” Oh my god “, said Starkenburg.” I knew that rigidly touched the lives of many people, I just didn't really notice how many. ” Within a few days, the fundraising campaign passed its goal of $ 5,000 and has doubled since then.

“I cried. I couldn't believe that … so that my children do that, and Duncan … it's an astonishing thing that your children take care of them, ”said Shover.

From heartbreaking friendship.

“I had a concert the other week and get a text, she is sure, I can hardly wait to see you on Tuesday. 'She gave me one of them,” said Starkenburg when he up.

Shover said she was incredibly grateful for the support. “Duncan is a great child. What he did for me was … incredible, ”she said.

A lesson that you cannot always learn in the classroom: light can still shine through despite dark times.

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