NORTHFIELD — A benefit this weekend will raise money for the Holly Avenue resident whose home was severely damaged in an October fire that killed her two dogs.

The event will be held at the Montague Elks Lodge, located at 1 Elks Ave. in Turners Falls, on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Folks are invited to listen to live music from Curly Fingers DuPree, enter for chances to win more than 50 raffle items and participate in a 50/50 raffle. There is a $5 entrance fee.

Proceeds will benefit Northfield resident Rabecka Mitchell, whose home at 15 Holly Ave. in Northfield was severely damaged on Oct. 26. The fire killed her two dogs and left her home as a total loss. Mitchell was at home with a friend who was visiting that night when they had to escape the house. She did rescue her cat, though.

“To my blessing, I only received a small burn on my left hand,” Mitchell said. “The smoke was so black and thick and hot. It was really hard.”

She said fire officials determined it was an accidental electrical fire, but have yet to pinpoint the exact origin. Northfield Fire Chief Floyd “Skip” Dunnell III said dry conditions required the help of eight mutual aid departments, as the house fire needed to be knocked down, as well as a brush fire that could have threatened nearby homes if not for firefighters from around the county.

In the weeks since the fire, Mitchell said the “community has been quite incredible,” as donations came in from a GoFundMe and Loaves and Fishes, a nonprofit that is affiliated with the three churches of Northfield.

“We’re very grateful for the generosity that came forth,” said Loaves and Fishes Coordinator Cathy Hawkins-Harrison.

Mitchell said she wanted to thank Dunnell and the firefighters for their response; neighbor Cate Woolner and Hawkins-Harrison for coordinating fundraisers; the support of Gill Church and Pastor Gary Bourbeau; the Red Cross; and the South Deerfield Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital (VESH).

“My community has been quite incredible,” she said. “It’s really warming my heart. It’s quite wonderful how people have come together.”

She also specifically thanked Northfield Police Officer John Cowan, who supported her when she went back to the house.

Cowan, Mitchell said, discouraged her from going into the damaged home to see her dogs’ remains and instead “wanted me to remember them the way they were,” before taking further care of her dogs once his shift was over.

“He took it upon himself when his shift was over to have my dogs cremated,” Mitchell said. “I thought that was incredibly kind of him. … He didn’t have to do that.”

As Mitchell continues to work through the recovery process, she said she fully intends to rebuild her home

“It’s gonna be quite some time,” she said. “I love my community so much and that’s my home, so I do intend on rebuilding.”

For more information about the benefit being held at the Montague Elks Lodge, visit the event’s Facebook page at bit.ly/3B0Lhk9. Marcy Sulda, Mitchell’s friend, is organizing the event for her.

“The Montague Elks has always been amazing,” Sulda said of the organization holding the benefit under its roof.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.