The “Crowder family” is real, according to Jorge Zapata, agriculture instructor and former recruiter for Crowder College.
Zapata said that he has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support his family has felt in the past few days.
"This whole experience has been beyond humbling," he said of the outpouring of support his family has received. "The 'Crowder family' is not just a slogan."
On Monday, a fire tore through the Zapata family’s rural Newton County home. Most family members were outside, a newborn son was inside the house when the fire started but everyone got out OK. The past few months have been difficult for the family. Baby Drey was born prematurely, the fire took three-quarters of the family home and a car accident on a slippery road left Jorge with a broken nose.
When people ask him how they can help, Zapata tells them to enjoy their own families and realize what a blessing it is to have them close.
"Things are replaceable, family is not," he said.
He’s trying to make it to Crowder, where he’s worked for the past eight years, to teach his classes.
“This is my normal right now,” Zapata said.
After the fire, staff members in the agriculture department wanted to do something and planned a chili supper. Other staff members brought desserts and planned a silent auction.
The Thursday afternoon event raised $3,066, which will go directly to the family and $860.75 in silent auction pledges.
Perhaps silent auction item number 66 – a small sign – said it best: “Family, we are blessed.”
