stepfather who lost dogs, possessions in fire 3 / 7 Crews work the scene after a fire broke out in the back of a home on Pierce Street in Jackson, Mich. Friday, October 30, 2015. (Jessica Christian | Mlive.com)

SUMMIT TWP., MI - Struggling to make payments and unable to afford a new roof, Thomas Farthing and his wife, Jean, recently lost their home insurance.

To get it back, the Farthings cut down a suspect tree, patched up some damage and stowed away money - but in October - they lost their home to fire.

"You finally get back up -- you start to get a little bit ahead -- and (then) tragedy," reflected Thomas Farthing, a 63-year-old Air Force veteran whose uninsured home caught flame in Summit Township. "You get mad, and you start to think it's you against the world."

"But people are out there and they care," he added, reflecting on thousands of dollars raised in his family's behalf. "The help of the community, and (of) people I don't know, it just gives you a little bit of faith," he added.

On Saturday, Dec. 19, construction crews gutted Thomas and Jean Farthing's home on Pierce Street with the help of family and community volunteers.

Fire partly destroyed the two-story house on Oct. 30, when flames consumed the kitchen and spread into an upstairs bathroom.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, however three dogs died during the fire. In addition, the home suffered extensive smoke, fire and water damage.

"It was horrible," Jean Farthing said of the second fire she's experienced in less than 20 years. "I was just thankful my husband got out. I wish I could have gotten my animals -- I didn't -- but as long as my husband was out, we were fine.

"I knew we could pull things together and get by," she added.

Following the fire, family and friends sheltered the Farthings, while Shonnie Reed, started a GoFundMe account to sustain her mom and step-dad.

Hearing the story and learning a local Air Force veteran had been rendered homeless, Jason Adams, of Hi-Tech Restoration in Jackson, reached out to Reed to help, Jean Farthing said.

"(Adams) wanted to offer some help, but I thought what could be done?" Farthing recalled of the destroyed home. "I thought there was nothing we could do," she added.

Inspecting the damage at the house, Adams and his company reassured the Farthings and offered to rebuild it free of charge.

In the following weeks, Adams and his employee, Kyle Woodard, spread Thomas and Jean Farthing's story to multiple business across Jackson.

Quick to help, ABC Supply Company provided a free roof for the rebuild, while Lowe's sold building materials at reduced costs and donated $500 toward the renovations, Adams said.

"I was amazed, very amazed." Jean Farthing said of the businesses and Adams. "He's been a really good help."

To restore the home, Adams said his crew will rebuild the roof, rewire the electrical work and replace lost appliances among other repairs. The home should be ready to move into by late February or early spring, he said.

The company expects the repairs to cost roughly $70,000, while $26,000 has already been covered, according to Woodard.

"We are just overwhelmed," Jean Farthing said, while her husband expressed shock at the community's concern, as well as the efforts of his fellow employees at Meijer, who raised roughly $1,000 in the fire's wake.

"All the people who showed up (to help) -- Jason -- all the people at work and even the Red Cross, really, they were the people who carried me on," Thomas Farthing reflected. "(Their work) kind of gave me a boost and a hope, you know, that things are going to get better," he added.

For Woodard, who works with Hi-Tech Restoration, the chance to give back to a local veteran was reward in itself, he said

"The man gave a portion of his life to us and now he's in a hard time," Woodard said of Thomas Farthing, who served four years in the Air Force. "This is just our way of contributing and giving back to somebody who deserves it," he added.

Just before demolition began on their home Dec. 19, both Tomas and Jean Farthing expressed surprise, amazement and their sincere thanks for all the help.

Looking forward, each said they're happy to be moving back into their old home.

"It feels awesome -- people actually care," Thomas Farthing said, pausing to find the right words. "It's just -- it's just unbelievable.

"I was not expecting (this) at all," he added. "It's just amazing."

Ryan Shek is a reporter for the Jackson Citizen Patriot and MLive.com. Contact him at rshek@mlive.com.