BALLSTON LAKE — A Baptist minister whose Ballston Lake home was destroyed by fire last winter is expressing gratitude to all the people who came to his family’s assistance, and he wants to do so by giving back to the community.

The Rev. Darren Persons, his wife Elizabeth and three sons lost their belongings in a fire on Feb. 12 that was blamed on a pellet stove.

Persons is one of two ministers at the Olde Liberty Baptist Church on East Line Road in Malta.

No one was home when the fire broke out, Persons said.

The community rallied and supplied the family with more items than it can use, he said.

“It’s impressive how people came out to help us when we needed it,” he said. “We’ve moved into an apartment in Clifton Park, which is now fully furnished because of this support.”

In fact, the donations were far greater than the Persons needed. So, they’re planning to hold a “giveaway” of the excess merchandise.

The event will be held on land next to the property where they lost their home, on the corner of Round Lake and East Line roads in Ballston Lake.

“We were given all sorts of stuff,” he said Wednesday. “There were a lot of clothes, furniture, televisions and other items.”

Although none of the items offered in the giveaway on June 28 will have price tags, church spokeswoman Rochelle Runyon said it is hoped donations will be offered.

The giveaway will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“The donations will benefit the Family Camp in July, Vacation Bible School in August, and maintenance and improvements on the Fellowship Meadows satellite facility,” Runyon said.

Persons said he hopes the parsonage will be rebuilt by the end of summer and that he and his wife can move in with their three older boys and youngest son, who was born two weeks after the fire.

“We appreciate everything that was given to us,” Persons said.

Runyon said the family lived in the church basement for about two months until they moved to Clifton Park.

“They’ve been through a lot,” she said.

Persons said the Olde Liberty Baptist Church has between 75 and 85 members who attend church regularly.