A burned out pickup truck, which police say was driven by Billy Morvent, 59, of Rumford, is seen Nov. 6 after it crashed into a neighbor’s home on state Route 232 the day before. Police Chief Tony Milligan says Morvent fired on people at the home and set it on fire before returning to his home at 76 state Route 232 where he was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head early Nov. 6. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal file

RUMFORD — Two weeks after the shooting at Rumford Point, the community has come together to assist Jade’s Homegrown Goods — the farm that was heavily damaged in the shooting and subsequent fire.

After the event, Mary Kelley was one of the first to share a Facebook post putting the news out with a link to a fundraiser, organized by Lauren Dighton. “I put myself out there just to get everything in one place, and then let everybody else do what they were gonna do,” said Kelley.

The fundraiser has done well, bringing in double its original goal in support. Other members of the community have donated directly to the family. Local businesses have chipped in too either in donations or meals. “A lot of people reached out to me with options for places for them to stay,” said Kelley. The couple has been able to secure a place to stay, as their home was destroyed by the fire. The farm stand is still intact, and the community has done their best to support the farm by buying from them.

“They’ve been running low on meat,” said Kelley. Community members have chipped in to look after the animals, doing whatever they can to keep the farm running as they move towards rebuilding. On Facebook, Matthew Thurston posted, “The support you have shown for everybody involved and this farm has been absolutely amazing, overwhelming, and truly humbling.”

In 2023, Jade Guinaforte and Matthew Thurston, runners of Jade’s Homegrown Goods, performed their own service to the community when they rescued a few motorists from the Androscoggin river. “It’s like karma,” said Rose Lincoln, who documented the event. “They helped someone else, and now it’s their turn to be helped.”

The community has shown its eagerness to give back to them. “Our community rallies hard for people when they come into trouble, and they do it for farms especially,” said Kelley. “Any time something so scary happens, it’s good to kind of remind people that’s not the base of our community. The base of our community is how we support each other, and how we show up for each other.”