Cash donations to assist Owensville resident Ron Geisler rebuild after a Dec. 21 fire destroyed his Plum Avenue residence have reached $20,500 as of Monday, according to City Marshal Robert Rickerd.

“Man. Twenty-thousand, five hundred…in a week. That just goes to show you everybody’ wants to help,” said Rickerd.

He and his police department’s clerk, Jessica Means, are keeping track of donations of cash and pledges for labor and building materials. Rickerd said local chiropractor Dr. Roger Stewart will coordinate with local volunteers on the demolition of the existing structure and the rebuilding of a new approximately 850-square foot residence for Geisler.

Demolition of the existing one-level wood-frame dwelling is scheduled to being next Tuesday morning. Gruenloh Excavating’s Dale “Grassy” Gruenloh and Mike Miller have pledged to clear the site and prepare it for the rebuild, said Rickerd. City permits for the work have been applied for already, he noted.

At least five local contractors have pledged to donate their labor to frame and put the new structure under roof. Those include Jason Vandegriffe, Hinson Construction, R&V Construction (Roy Ruth and Denny Vogt), and Moritz Roofing. Rickerd said he’s also received word that others like Jim Schafer (labor), and the Huesgen brothers, Bob and Ricky (electrician labor) have offered their services.

There have been pledges from Pioneer Home Center and Pioneer Truss for supplies and trusses; from Allen Lowder for flooring materials; from Lane Building Products for materials at cost, and Larry Maciejewski for supplies at cost and labor for installing mechanical and plumbing systems.

Cody James is donating his labor from James Custom Flatwork to install the concrete pad, said Rickerd. And, while he was telling that to an official at Wieberg Red-E-Mix, the firm based out of Meta and Vichy offered to donate the cost of the concrete pad.

And, said Rickerd, there are those who want to help in other ways once Geisler’s new home is completed.

“We have all kinds of individuals saying they want to donate household supplies and furnishings once the house is built,” said Rickerd.