HOLLANDALE — A family of six which recently lost their home in a fire has received an outpouring of donations and support from the community, according to the Hollandale Fire Department.

Chris Mattison and his five children were displaced on Dec. 8 after a fire destroyed their home in Hollandale, the Iowa County village northwest of Blanchardville. Fire departments responded to assist from Blanchardville, Barneveld, Ridgeway, Mineral Point, Dodgeville, Darlington, Argyle and New Glarus.

Hollandale Fire Chief Jerry Doescher told NBC 15 the family was on vacation in Florida when the fire happened. The house was a total loss and the cause is unknown.

The fire department posted to Facebook seeking donations for the family, explaining that everyone was safe and accounted for but the family lost everything in the fire, including all of the children’s Christmas presents.

The post was shared hundreds of times. Two days later, the fire department’s Facebook page posted an update that the family had found a place to stay and was “asking for people to hold on future donations for the time being” since they had already received much of what they needed.

The family was “overwhelmed with emotions from all the kindness that everyone has shown.”

The Pecatonica Area School District also announced that it had set up an account at Farmer’s Savings Bank in Hollandale for the family, with checks payable to the “Mattison Family Fund.” Collection cans are also available at the Cenex gas stations in Blanchardville, New Glarus and Argyle.