Two classmates of a Sequoyah High School student whose family lost its home in a fire are presenting fundraisers to help them recover.

Mariah Varner, 17, daughter of Nancy Varner of southeast Cherokee, and Jason Deegan, 17, son of David and Amy Deegan of Hickory Flat, are directing plays to help the Shearer family.

"Anastasia!," a musical based on the Romanov legend and directed by Mariah, is at 7:30 p.m. today and 11 a.m. on Saturday at Hickory Flat United Methodist Church auditorium. Admission is free, but donations will be collected for the Shearers and MUST Cherokee.

An adaptation of Lee Blessing's play "Patient A," directed by Jason is at 7 p.m. on Jan. 29 at the church. Tickets are $5 each, and all proceeds will be donated to the Shearers.

Kate and Steve Shearer and their children lost their home on Julie Anne Way off Highway 140/Hickory Flat Highway in southeast Cherokee County in a fire on Jan. 11.

The fire started in the garage and destroyed half of the house, according to Ossie Delay, chief fire and explosion investigator for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services. He said improper disposal of incense sticks likely caused the fire.

Mrs. Shearer said the remainder of the two-story, four-bedroom, three-bathroom home eventually was torn down because of the damage. Since the fire, the family has been staying with neighbors.

"We're doing pretty good," she said, adding the family had homeowners' insurance on the 2,400-square-foot house. The family now is looking for a rental home to live in while their house is rebuilt.

Mariah and Jason, both seniors at Sequoyah High, are directing the plays as part of their senior projects. These projects, done at all county high schools, count for 20 percent of a student's grade in the class.

Mariah said she decided to help the Shearers because she's known Wesley, 18, the family's third-oldest son, for a long time.

"They can really use it," she said of the community's help.

Both Mariah and Jason have acted in school plays with Wesley. They hope people will come and support the Shearers, who Jason calls a "family that's done a lot of good for the community."

Many people have come to the family's aid so far, Mrs. Shearer said, which is much appreciated.

The family, which also includes grown children Ben, Rachel and Nathan, and Philip, 16, Christine, 14, and Jonathan, 12, all attend Woodstock Community Church.

Thanks to their church family, neighbors and the Sequoyah High community, the family isn't "going through this alone," Mrs. Shearer said.

While losing their home has been a tragedy, Mrs. Shearer said the event has taught the family an important lesson.

"We realize that material possessions are not everything," she said. "That's not what's valuable. People are."