LEBANON - When Jennifer Swindle of Lebanon announced online that she was giving away a free sofa and matching loveseat, and a young mom in town took the offer, Swindle didn't expect a future disaster would bring an opportunity to give the woman and her children something more.

After the Swindle family recently moved into their new home, Swindle said, there wasn't space for the couches. But they had sentimental value: The mother of a longtime friend, Barb Shanks, owned the pieces until she passed away and Shanks gave them to the Swindles.

So Swindle advertised the furniture a couple months ago on Freecycle.org, a website where people can find, swap or give items away.

The young mother, who requested the Democrat-Herald not use her name, responded. Swindle and Shanks delivered the black couches patterned with color streaks to the woman's two-bedroom home at Monarch apartments.

Tuesday morning, Swindle heard on her scanner about the fire at those apartments. Remembering it was the same place she took the couches, she called Shanks and asked her to drive by and check.

Shanks learned the couches were destroyed in the fire, which had started inside the woman's apartment when she, her 2-year-old daughter and newborn son were not home. Flames gutted her apartment and a neighbor's and damaged several others, displacing about 15 people.

Realizing the woman had lost everything, Swindle and Shanks decided to help.

"I don't know a lot about her. I just met her when we gave the couches to her," Swindle said.

That afternoon, Swindle again posted an ad on Freecycle.org, this time asking anyone in Lebanon and Sweet Home to donate items for the woman and her family.

Swindle thought finding anything for the woman would be tough. Instead, Swindle said the response has been incredible.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the women have transported three truck loads of donations to a motel where the young mother is staying.

"We have gotten clothes, baby diapers, toys, blankets, games, dolls, coloring books," Swindle said.

The woman's response to it all? "Tears," Swindle explained, adding "I am thankful for all those people who took time and donated all that stuff to (her)."

Swindle said another family with two children affected by the fire are also in need of donations. To make a contribution, visit Freecycle.org or call the Lebanon Fire Department, 451-1751.

The American Red Cross has found temporary lodging, and emergency food and clothing for the other tenants affected by the fire.