Community Rallying to Help Local Victims of Gaithersburg Plane Crash
UPDATED – People throughout Montgomery County and even out of state are stepping up to help a father and his daughter through the pain of losing the rest of their family in a freak accident that had a jet crashing into their Gaithersburg home.
Marie Gemmell and sons Cole and Devon.
A waitress at Dogfish Head Aleshouse who admits she barely knows the Gemmell family was so struck by the horror of that Dec. 8 accident that she started a GoFundMe account to help raise funds for Ken Gemmell and his daughter Arabelle. They lost Marie Gemmell, 36 and her two children, Cole (3) and Devin (7 weeks) who were were found huddled together in a second floor bathroom of their home that was completely destroyed by the jet. The three died of smoke inhalation, according to a report for the Office of the Medical Examiner. The jet was traveling from Chapel Hill, N.C. to the Montgomery County Airpark when it crashed into a neighborhood off Drop Forge Lane damaging two homes and completely destroying the Gemmells’ home.
As Jenifer Miller of Silver Spring watched the news reports, she said she realized she recognized the family and had to help them.
“I have waited on them a few times at Dogfishhead Alehouse,” she said describing the family as “regulars.”
“They are very kind people and not just to the staff but to each other. They are very attentive with their children and they way the look at each other as a couple, they are so cute and kind,” Miller told MyMCMedia.
The jet crashed at about 10:15 a.m. on Dec.8 and by 5 p.m. that day Miller had started her GoFundMe account to raise what she hoped would be about $10,000 for the family.
“I am a mother of five and all I thought was as a human being if I were ever in any kind of situation not even of this magnitude I would hope someone would have it in their heart to do it for me,” she said.
The fund now sits at more than $355,000 raised by more than 7,000 donors and continues to grow. According to GoFundMe Public Relations Manager Kelsea Little the ‘Gemmell Family Fundraiser’ campaign has been up for two days and has quickly become the GoFundMe site’s 9th largest campaign of all time.
Miller said Gemmell called the restaurant Monday evening to talk to her when he found out about the fundraising, and the two briefly spoke since then.
“It was so unexpected (to hear from Gemmell) I could go the rest of this life and he not say anything to me and I would understand,” Miller said.
Miller said she plans to keep the GoFundMe account operating until Gemmell instructs her to take it down.
In addition to the online fundraiser, Kid’sTown Learning Center at 18815 Waring Station Road, Germantown is also accepting donations for the family. Donations could include size 8 girls’ clothing, size 2 girls’ shoes, toys and school supplies as well as size large shirts, pants size 36×30; shoes size 10. Gift cards are also being requested. The drop-off location is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
A community event in Germantown is also hoping to raise funds for the Gemmell family.
Pop Up Play Zone at 2211 Bel Pre Road; Silver Spring is asking for a $10 donation for the family in exchange for two hours of fun on all the inflatables there. The event is scheduled for Dec. 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Food vendors will also be on-hand donating proceeds to the family.
“We saw the story and I feel like he has a similar to mine before this happened – he is from New Jersey, he has an 8 year old and he lives in Gaithersburg,” said Andy Ross owner of Pop Up Play Zone along with partner Eric Knaus of The Great Zucchini.
Playground Honoring Gemmell Family to Open in September
The city of Gaithersburg is joining the Where Angels Play Foundation to build a new tot lot play area at Griffith Park to honor and celebrate the lives of Marie, Cole and Devin Gemmell. The Gemmells were tragically killed in 2014 when a private plane crashed into their family home in Gaithersburg. Marie’s husband Ken […]
Refurbished Playground to Honor Gemmell Family
Gaithersburg is on the verge of replacing a playground that would be named for the Gemmell family, who lost three members when a plane crashed into their home in December 2014. Work on the tot lot will be done by the Where Angels Play Foundation, an organization that since 2013 has been building playgrounds. The […]
Gemmells to Grand Marshal Kentlands Day Parade on May 2nd
Ken Gemmell and his daughter, Arabelle, are the grand marshals of the Kentlands Day Parade, according to the event’s organizer, Andrew Ross. The parade begins at 10 a.m. at the Main Street Pavilion in the Kentlands community of Gaithersburg, and other participants include local schools, dance groups, businesses and community leaders. The parade leads to […]
Ken Gemmell: One Month After the Tragic Plane Crash
“This wouldn’t have been on my top 1,000 fears in life.” Yet, one month ago today, a jet plane headed from North Carolina to the Montgomery County Airpark sliced through two houses in a Gaithersburg neighborhood, the wing shearing off and into Ken Gemmell’s home that he shared with his wife Marie and their two sons, […]
Gaithersburg Leaders to Recognize Woman Who Set Up Fund for Gemmell Family
The woman who set up a GoFundMe account for the Gemmell family following a fatal Dec. 8 plane crash in Gaithersburg is scheduled to be recognized for her efforts at the Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council meeting on Jan. 5. Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman said it was his idea to recognize Jenifer Miller, who is […]
Dogfish Head Alehouse Donates $2K to Gemmells
A fundraiser at a local restaurant raised about $2,000 for the Gemmell family. Dogfish Head Alehouse of Gaithersburg hosted a fundraiser Dec. 22 donating 20 percent of the proceeds to the Gemmell family. Marie Gemmell and her two young sons died on Dec. 8 when a jet crashed into their Gaithersburg home. Jenifer Miller, a […]
Savi Technology Launches College Fund for Gemmell Daughter
Savi Technology established the Arabelle Gemmell Fund, a campaign designed to create a college fund for Arabelle Gemmell, daughter of Savi employee Ken Gemmell. Arabelle’s mother and two young brothers, Devin and Cole, were killed when a small plane hit their home near Gaithersburg on Dec. 8, 2014. Ken Gemmell was at work at the […]
Leggett Calls for Review of the County's Airpark Operations (VIDEO)
Residents are questioning the safety of the Montgomery County Airpark after a plane crashed into a neighborhood nearby killing six people on Dec. 8. Related:
DogFish Head Alehouse to Host Gemmell Fundraiser
A Gaithersburg restaurant has scheduled a fundraiser for Dec. 22 to benefit the Gemmell family, who lost Marie Gemmell and her two young sons when a plane crashed into their Gaithersburg home earlier this month. Dogfish Head Alehouse at 800 West Diamond Avenue is donating 20 percent of the day’s profits as well as money from a […]
Executive Ike Leggett on Airpark Review (Video)
In this MyMCMedia Extra, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett details the information he is looking for from the Revenue Authority when it comes to reviewing operations at the Montgomery County Airpark. Related:
Engage us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Tweets by @mymcmedia