Scott Larson and his team at Gilmore Home Center, an Ace Hardware company in Bomoseen, Vermont, have always dedicated themselves to helping the community. When a fire burned the store to the ground on Sunday, January 15, 2023, Scott was amazed at the outpouring of support from their local customers and community organizations as they pulled together to rebuild.

Scott and his wife Bernadette had just walked into service at church when he got an urgent message from his son: "Dad! The building is on fire!"

Although emergency crews rushed to the scene, the raging fire had already caused severe damage. Thankfully, it was on a Sunday and the store was closed at the time, so nobody was injured.

"We ended up losing the building, and a key part of our community," said Heath Goyette, Castleton Fire Chief. "Everybody goes to Gilmore’s for something."

"I think Gilmore Home Center is one of the most charitable organizations in our community," said Michael Jones, Castleton Town Manager. "Whether it’s somebody needing lumber to complete a project for a dugout for a baseball field, or somebody holding a fundraiser looking for donations, they’re always there to help the community."

Thankfully, the lumber yard escaped the fire, so the store was able to continue with that part of the business without interruption. The Gilmore team reacted quickly to replenish the store with basic supplies and everyday items that their customers needed.

"After the fire, the very next morning a customer called and said ‘I need 100 2x4s up by the lake. Can you deliver?’", said Scott. "Of course we can! We were delivering 14 hours after the fire."

The Crippen-Fellows American Legion Post 50 coordinated with the Castleton Fire Department to host a breakfast fundraiser for the community where all the proceeds went toward a fund for the employees of the store.

"They give to the community in so many ways, monetarily and with supplies, discounts, whatever it takes to help people in the community," said John Tester, Crippen-Fellows American Legion Post 50 Post Manager. "So when it came time to support Gilmore’s, the community gave back."

"What I couldn’t believe was that there were so many people that I didn’t know that took time out of their day to come and donate to help us out when we were down, just like we’ve tried to help anybody else in the community that’s trying to raise money," said Scott.