Barrington dealership helps employee recover from house fire

Marquardt of Barrington Buick GMC is hosting a donation day Saturday to help the family of a longtime employee who lost all their belongings in a fire last month.

Miguel Sanchez has been a salesperson at Marquardt for 12 years, and his wife, Mercy, works for a neighboring business.

The house they've been renting on Church Street in Barrington for 15 years was damaged extensively March 28 by a fire that began in a neighbor's garage.

Luckily, the couple and their three adult sons who live in the home were able to escape unharmed. But they lost a significant amount of clothing, furniture and other belongings. Because of the economic downturn, the family had let their rental insurance policy lapse.

“Miguel and Mercy Home Fire Donation Day” will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the dealership, 1421 S. Barrington Road. Staff will be grilling food throughout the day while cash donations, gift cards and other sources of help will be accepted.

“We wanted to help him out,” company President Kurt Marquardt said. “His customers just love him. He's very soft-spoken. He's not a high-pressure guy. He's a guy you'd want to be friends with.”

Sanchez said he expects to move back to the house once it's repaired, but has no idea how long that will take.

“We are staying with my in-laws in Fox Lake,” he said.

They intend to move into a temporary residence, but cannot really accept donations of furniture until they've found a place.

Meanwhile, his three sons — ages 25, 23 and 21 — are each staying with different friends in Barrington.

Marquardt said cash and gift cards would be the most useful form of donation on Saturday and also would avoid any problems of duplication for the Sanchez family.