About 100 people attended a barbecue fundraiser Sunday evening to help a beloved San Francisco dog walker and his family after a fire destroyed their home.
Terry Williams said he was overwhelmed by the amount of love and support.
“It’s humbling that so many people showed up. I’m very proud and grateful. Very grateful,” Williams said.
The A fire occurred on Tuesday. Williams had filed a report with San Francisco police about a month earlier received threatening and racist packages in the mailincluding a doll with an image of a black person with a noose around his neck.
The fire brigade was still investigating the cause of the fire.
Police said at the time that there was no connection between the fire and the racist packages.
“I pray to God that it isn’t so. I hope no one has that much malice in their heart. I just pray to God that no one is that crazy,” Williams said.
Williams’ father and mother were injured in the fire. He said they were out of the hospital and doing better. The family stayed in a hotel.
Williams said his father bought the house near Alamo Square more than 50 years ago in the early 1970s.
“We’re not leaving, my dad has already said we’re going to rebuild here. My dad always says he bought that house and he’s going to die in that house with my mom,” Williams said.
Letisha Williams-Humphrey is Williams’ sister. She grew up in the house. She said it broke her heart to see it boarded up.
“I don’t have a house. I have a house that I live in, but this is what I call home, where my parents were, it’s always home,” Williams-Humphrey said.
Supporters said even though they lost their home, they still have the neighborhood.
The Williams family said this kind of support showed them that love trumps hate.
“I want to thank everyone,” Williams said. “It gives me hope that everything will be okay,” Williams said.
Da Lin
