Hundreds pack St. Thomas More dinner after local family loses home in lightning fire

OMAHA, Neb. —

On Sunday, hundreds of community members gathered at St. Thomas More Catholic Church for a spaghetti dinner supporting a family who lost their home in a lightning fire on July 3rd.

The Prokupek family was out camping when they came home to their house on fire due to a lightning strike.

“Never in a million years would I ever thought that our house would be struck by lightening,” Megan Prokupek said.

She said the fire started in their sons room in the attic and spread to everywhere upstairs. Their house was a total loss.

“It’s overwhelming and emotional for sure. But it’s been great. Like to see everybody come together and people have prayed for us, brought us meals. And it’s just been awesome,” said Prokupek.

Sunday everyone gathered to help a family that they say always helps everyone else.

“Megan and her family are the first ones to Saint Thomas. Can’t always step up and help with every event. And so it’s a way for our community to give back to their family,” Volunteer Krisin Sterva said.

Volunteer, John Coleman, said they filled up the signup sheet for Sundays event in a few hours. He said there were almost 100 volunteers at the doors an hour before the event started.

“It brings tears to my eyes, to my families eyes. the amount of support here is incredible,” Coleman said.

The dinner had lines out the door with plenty of pasta and desserts for everyone who showed up. All proceeds from Sunday nights event went straight to help the Prokupek family rebuild their lives.