HALLAM, Pa. — From gift baskets to sports memorabilia—more than 300 items will be bid on at the Tourist Inn in Hellam Township, York County, to help a mother and son in need.
Lilly DeJesus and her 15-year-old son, Josh, have been in and out of the hospital after Josh was diagnosed with cancer last year.
Tragedy struck the family in July when their house caught fire.
The fire destroyed their home and claimed the lives of Josh’s father, younger brother and sister.
Annette Fullerton, who owns the Tourist Inn, and the York City Fire Department have been helping support Josh and Lilly ever since.
“If there’s anyone in this community that needs our help, it’s Josh and Lilly," said Fullerton, who is organizing the benefit auction. “The community, my family, the firefighters, we helped them get everything they needed to settle in and come home the next day to a fully furnished apartment. Now our main goal is to help them financially.”
Fullerton said the community has helped support other families in need during previous benefit auctions at the Tourist Inn. She is hoping the York community will come together again to help Josh and Lilly get through the holidays.
“Christmas is going to be a really hard day for them, and hopefully the support we can show through the community will not only help them financially but get them through the day," said Fullerton.
The auction is a chance to spread the giving spirit of the holidays to a family still reeling from the tragedy in July.
“They’re finding strength in each other and when they see what our community will do, it will really help them," said Fullerton.
All proceeds collected during the auction will be given to Josh and Lilly. People can continue donating money to the family after the auction, through the Tourist Inn Benefit Committee.
The auction will take place at 671 W Market St. in Hallam around 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.