NEW YORK (PIX11) — The United Way of Greater Newark has established the Newark Fire Relief Fund to help 50 people displaced by a four-alarm fire on September 28th.
“We have folks living in their cars,” said Catherine Wilson, CEO of United Way of Greater Newark. “They don’t have any resources. It just made sense that we would set up a fund.”
The fire tore through a nine-unit apartment building on Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard and spread to the adjacent buildings.
United Way of Greater Newark CEO Catherine Wilson said Newark Councilmember Anibal Ramos Junior approached United Way about starting a fund, which the organization did not hesitate to do.
“We have senior citizens, people in their 60s, sleeping in their cars,” said Wilson. “We have families with young children who need access to a hotel room, somewhere to go. Because, as you can imagine, in a fire, you lose everything.”
The fund launched last week, and Wilson said it has already raised $39,000. She would love to raise $100,000 by the end of the month.
“Rent is expensive,” said Wilson. “Housing is expensive here. So the funds will go for security deposits, first months’ rent, new furniture. People will need new beds, mattresses, cribs, toddler beds, clothing, food.”
Wilson said the fund has already paid for one tenant’s security deposit and first month’s rent on another apartment.
“I think people are just grateful to have the opportunity to receive those funds and think about starting that next chapter,” said Wilson.
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