Community delivers to Marvin’s employees in time of need

A recent GoFundMe campaign has raised about $15,750 for Greencastle residents Albertina and Estell Brown after a fire damaged their home.

Courtesy photo

Members of the Greencastle and DePauw communities have come out in support of a Greencastle woman and her daughter following a recent house fire.

A GoFundMe page was set up earlier this week for Albertina and Estell Brown after a recent fire significantly damaged their Greencastle home.

The page was created by Nipun Chopra, a 2006 DePauw graduate who is currently an assistant professor of biology at the university.

The fundraiser was started with a goal of $12,000. As of Thursday afternoon, however, more than 200 donors had raised around $15,750.

Both Albertina and Estell are well-known to the DePauw campus and the Greencastle community in general at Marvin’s, which is famous locally for its garlic cheeseburgers.

“During your time at DePauw, you will have seen their smiling faces at Marvin’s,” the page states. “For those of us who have worked at Marvin’s, both of them are like family.

“To countless others within the community, Estell and Albertina have been a part of their lives for many decades.”

Chopra told the Banner Graphic that donations have come from Abu Dhabi, England and across the country. He also believes the effort shows that people care in the community.

“It just made sense to get DePauw alumni and other people together to help them out, especially those who have worked at Marvin’s,” Chopra said. “I hope this shows that we feel part of the Greencastle community.”

In comments to the Banner Graphic, Albertina said she was, “flabbergasted, gobsmacked, grateful, all those words” about the support they have received.

“It’s one of the reasons you can live in a small town where you know people, where you can help each other out,” she said.