T-L Photo/SHELLEY HANSON SHOWN HERE is the South 10th Street house in Martins Ferry where a fire occurred Saturday. A spaghetti dinner benefit for the woman who lived there and lost everything is scheduled for May 23 at the Martins Ferry Rec Center.

MARTINS FERRY — A fundraiser dinner is being organized to help a victim of a recent house fire in Martins Ferry.

Gary Rettig, his fellow Gas Guys Garage of Martins Ferry co-workers and his wife Colleen Rettig, have been collecting donations of clothes and other items for fire victim Cheryl Green, whose South 10th Street home was heavily damaged last Saturday by a fire.

On social media Rettig asked the community to help the woman who is receiving treatment in a Pittsburgh hospital. People have been dropping off items at the Gas Guys Garage, 5 Zane Highway.

Rettig has also planned a spaghetti dinner fundraiser slated for May 23 at the Martins Ferry Recreation Center, 401 S. Fourth St., Martins Ferry. Doors open at 2 p.m. and the dinner will begin at 4 p.m.

There will also be a chance auction and a 50-50 raffle. Tickets can be purchased at the door or ahead of time at the Gas Guys Garage.

Rettig has noted on Facebook how touched he has been to see the community band together to help Green.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone who has been dropping off donations throughout the week at Gas Guys Garage,” he said. “My tearful moment today was when an old man came in and said, ‘I know it ain’t much but here’s $10 to help Mrs. Green.’ Wow, what a community and big hearts among the city of Martins Ferry.”

A GoFundMe account also has been set up by Green’s family. It is titled “Help Cheryl Green. Lost everything in a house fire.” To date, the fund has raised $900 in donations.

“Early Saturday morning my husband’s mom lost her house and everything in it due to a house fire. She’s really going to need some clothes and night clothes when she comes home from the hospital. If anyone has any size 6 shoes or slippers and large/1x clothes that you don’t need anymore or any household items that would be awesome. Anything helps,” wrote Wendy Green on the fund site.

Colleen Rettig on Friday said any business or individual who would like to donate desserts or raffle items for the dinner can contact her on Facebook or call her at 304-559-7464.

“They were hoping she was coming home, possibly today or soon. She will stay with family members until she can get situated and on her feet and back into her own place,” Colleen Rettig said. “They’re trying to find another place for her to move into. … She lost everything she had.”

She noted her husband is a longtime friend of the Green family.

“When he heard it was Mrs. Green he had tears in his eyes. He said, ‘We have to help.’ … He would give the shirt off his back,” she said. “We’re very thankful for the response. A lady brought in a small bag yesterday with deodorant in it.”

This is the same fire that involved two Martins Ferry police officers — Steve Veltri and Vince West — arriving first at the scene and entering the burning structure to save Green. The officers also entered a neighboring house to save another woman whose home received some fire damage.