The Heirloom Hotel fire destroyed two years of hard work that owners Jim and Mallorie Rasberry, Josh and Emily Nowell, and HGTV stars Ben and Erin Napier poured into the property. After viewers watched the devastating blaze on “Home Town: Inn This Together,” fans rallied around the owners with messages of encouragement and offers to help. Rasberry and Nowell shared one touching letter from a supporter who volunteered to pitch in with rebuilding efforts.
Jim Rasberry & Josh Nowell Share Gratitude for Overwhelming Fan Support
On June 3, The Heirloom Instagram account shared a post noting how thankful they are for all of the support from fans.
“We’ve had thousands of messages like these since the Heirloom fire last August. Your generosity has continually blown us away throughout this entire journey!” the owners shared. “We’re beyond grateful to each of you. 🇺🇸”
Rasberry read the letter on the May 30 episode of “The Heirloom Podcast.”
“Dear Mallorie, Jim, and Josh,” he began reading. “First of all, my wife Melissa and I want to tell you how sorry we are about the fire. We’ve never met, but Melissa and I stayed at the cottage last summer while your family was in Normandy.”
He continued reading, “I am a retired plumber, previously licensed in multiple states. Although I’m older, I believe I could still help to rebuild the hotel. If you need an extra body, you guys are like family to us because we’ve been watching you for so long. We’ve already booked our next stay in your cottage.”
The letter added, “Hopefully, we can meet face to face. My offer to you —five good people — is sincere. So, if there’s anything I can do, plumbing-wise or management-wise or even swinging a hammer, please reach out to me. It would be my privilege and pleasure to help you and the town of Laurel.”
Nowell noted, “It’s been incredible — and honestly plumbers are hard to find. So maybe I’ll look up John!”
One fan commented, “I do believe that there are thousands of people who would be happy to pitch in and help with their skills. It is heartwarming ❤️ and even more who have been praying for you all with the restoration … again! Believing for it!”
Hotel Owners Explain Why They Don’t Have a GoFundMe
Nowell and Rasberry also shared that fans have asked about a GoFundMe campaign, but they decided against it.
“A lot of people have asked, ‘How can we help?’ It’s meant so much,” Nowell said. “And we had, early on, like in day one, two, three, the first week … we had so many people wanting to give to us from a GoFundMe.”
He continued, “And I want to say, first of all, thank you. Thank you for caring enough, understanding what a fire does to people financially. That meant and means so much to us.”
Nowell noted that they would prefer that fans give to their local community instead.
“Our first thought would be find someone in your community who has suffered with fire or loss and fund them, help them,” he said. “We are grateful for that and I think that would go a lot further in your own community.”
“So thank you guys for offering to do that,” Nowell added. “But that would be my first recommendation on donations.”
While fans had the opportunity to support the rebuild by purchasing a limited edition photo rail made from salvaged flooring from the hotel, the item is now sold out.
Nowell and Rasberry also gave an update on the insurance delay following the fire.
