Updated Oct. 27, 3:54 p.m.
BY KIRSTEN E. PAULSON
Hoping to assist a family left devastated by a fire at their Woodhaven home, the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association (WRBA) collected clothing and other needed items during a drive they held this past weekend.
About seven bags of items were donated during the drive held on Oct. 24-25 at the WRBA office on Jamaica Avenue, according to WRBA member Ed Wendell.
“We’ll hand over what we have right now, and then regroup and see what else we can do for the family,” he said.
No one suffered any injuries in the blaze that broke out on 84th Street off Atlantic Avenue, but between the fire, smoke and water, the family lost everything. They are currently staying with relatives and are working with the Red Cross to secure more permanent housing. They hope to return to Woodhaven soon.
Chris Flood, whose family is well known in Woodhaven, brought the family’s circumstances to the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association’s attention—the boy in the family is part of his Boy Scout Troop and is a volunteer at the Woodhaven Cemetery Cleanups.
This was the second time this year that the WRBA has called for clothing donations to help a family in need following a house fire. Wendell noted the group collected clothes to assist residents affected by a massive fire that spread to about 10 90th Street homes in March.
“We collected a truckload of clothes for that fire,” he said. “People usually do respond pretty well to these kinds of calls.”
