CLINTON — As displaced Deer Ridge Apartment residents began to make living arrangements on Wednesday morning, a community awoke with a desire to help those affected by the fire that took their homes and belongings.
At a press conference held Wednesday afternoon at the offices of the Gateway Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, community leaders put out a call for help.
Dave Frett, director of the Gateway chapter, acknowledged that surrounding communities already have been responding overwhelmingly to the fire. He said very concerned people are organizing donation efforts to secure funding and supplies for fire victims.
Several officials from J.T. Cullen in Fulton, Ill., attended the press conference to present Frett with a check for $5,000. Company officials added that they hope other businesses in the area will step up as well.
“I know that the community appreciates what this business can do for these families,” Frett said. “This will go a long way to help the families.”
Frett added that he is amazed and pleased with the way the community is pitching in. He said Red Cross workers are meeting with the families to address their needs and figure out how to best help each individual involved.
“A lot of them got out with nothing,” he said. “We will continue working with them until their needs are met.”
Frett said the disaster budget for the Gateway chapter is $16,000 for the year; it has responded to 17 disasters since July 1. He noted that monetary donations to the Red Cross ensure workers can aid families in their time of need. Frett said local Kiwanis members presented a donation on Wednesday of nearly $500 collected in just a few short hours.
Frett remarked that other agencies have been assisting as well. He said anyone with donations of supplies or clothing should take them to the Benevolent Society or Salvation Army. Workers at both agencies are great assets to the community, he said, and provide much needed assistance.
Frett also made special mention of the volunteers helping out at the scene of the fire and the victim reception center on Tuesday night.
“The volunteers helping out last night were amazing,” Frett said. “We couldn’t do it without the volunteers.”
Kathy Klahn, chairwoman of the local Red Cross Board of Directors, said the chapter is very fortunate to have Frett as its executive director. She said he has been a very capable director and is doing a great job to make sure the families have what they need to start over.
Local businesswoman Barb Suehl, who is helping to organize some relief efforts, said when she learned of the fire, she immediately contacted two local legislators — Rep. Mike Boland, D-Moline, Ill., and Rep. Polly Bukta, D-Clinton.
“When I called them today, right away they said they’d like to make a monetary donation,” Suehl said.
Boland said neighboring communities in Illinois and Iowa are connected in spirit and that he and Bukta are more than happy to help. Boland said he hopes other companies and groups will follow the lead of J.T. Cullen and contribute to the relief effort.
Bukta and Boland presented Frett with individual checks of $100 each as a kickoff to the drive and urged the people of the Gateway area to contribute to the effort.
“There’s never a good time for a disaster, but there’s never a worse time than right before Christmas,” Bukta said. She asked area residents to “please join in and help us.”
Both legislators are encouraging their constituents to donate whatever they can.
“It’s great how the community comes together,” Bukta said. “Just look at the Kiwanis, they came up with $500, just in a lunch hour.”
Suehl added that a Christmas dinner will be served at the Red Dog Steakhouse and Saloon, 5253 Fulton Road, Fulton, on Dec 25. She invited families affected by the fire to attend the dinner, as well as firefighters who fought the blaze and the volunteers who responded to the incident.
Boland and Bukta praised Suehl for her efforts to help the donation drive through the Red Cross, Benevolent Society and Salvation Army.
“She dives right in and answers the call,” Boland said. “She’s an asset to both sides of the river.”
“And she doesn’t take no for an answer,” said Bukta. “She is a great asset to the community and we’re very lucky to have her.”
Klahn noted that many people came to aid the families at the reception center after the fire, some bringing coats and food, others bringing toys and providing entertainment in an effort to abate the victims’ sadness for their loss, if only for a little while.
“It’s just heartwarming,” Klahn said, “All the people showing up saying ‘What I can I do?’”
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Related Photos
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Only partial walls remained standing Wednesday morning after Tuesday night’s fire destroyed the main building of Deer Ridge Apartments at 262 N. Bluff Blvd. The fire continued to smolder throughout Wednesday. Investigators will begin searching for a cause today. Jerry Dahl/Clinton Herald
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