LAWRENCE | Coats, pizza, coffee and sandwiches. Within hours, the people of the Merrimack Valley and beyond were helping the estimated 200 people affected by yesterday's fire.
But more is needed. It will cost the Merrimack Valley Red Cross about $88,000 to feed, clothe and shelter the victims until they are able to get back on their feet.
To help this endeavor, The Eagle-Tribune has reopened its Santa Fund to raise money for the Red Cross. All the money raised will go directly toward helping the families. It is the first time ever the fund has been opened outside the holiday season.
"The Santa Fund is historically to help families in need. Right now there are families that lost everything in this fire," said Eagle-Tribune Publisher Al Getler. "In an unprecedented move, we are reopening the Santa Fund to aid the Lawrence fire victims."
Donations of food and clothing were already pouring in by 10 a.m. to help the families as well as those firefighters, police and emergency workers who spent hours knocking down the fire | as well as keeping it from spreading.
Members of the Manchester, N.H., chapter of the Boston College Club were collecting coats and clothes for the evacuees. The club helped 26 families left homeless by a five-alarm fire on Lake Avenue in Manchester on Jan. 17. Now, they're ready to help out Lawrence.
Pronto Pizza and Sal's Pizza donated dozens of pizzas to feed the firefighters and police officers. Burtons Grill in North Andover sent sandwiches, cheeseburgers, french fries, soups and salads. Area Dunkin' Donuts sent countless boxes of Joe and cups, doughnuts and munchkins.
Anonymous good Samaritans dropped off boxes of doughnuts and pastries in a large camper police and firefighters used as a command post. Food also was dropped off at the makeshift shelter set up at the South Lawrence East School.
Donald and Kelly Frazier brought coffee and doughnuts to the fire scene at 4 a.m. Later, they ferried pizza and sandwiches from area restaurants back to the fire scene.
Sharon Birchall, police Chief John Romero's girlfriend, and former City Councilor Marie Gosselin manned the command center all day, encouraging cold and tired police and firefighters to take a break.
"We just wanted to make sure everyone was kept warm with coffee and fed," Birchall said.
Angel and Glenys Mendez of Lawrence heard about the fire on the news and wanted to reach out to the victims. So they enlisted the help of their 6-year-old son, Josias, and their 5-year-old daughter, Gleanys, and gathered things they no longer need.
They walked into the Red Cross shelter at South Lawrence East School with plastic bags full of clothing and games yesterday afternoon.
"We need to come together as a community," the father said.
For others who are looking to help, it is best to donate money, said Jamie Devlin of the Merrimack Valley's chapter of the American Red Cross. The Red Cross can use money to give the victims vouchers to buy things they need, like food and clothing, Devlin said.
"Really what we need the most is financial donations," Devlin said.
How to help
Cash donations can be made to:
The Eagle-Tribune Santa Fund
Donations can be dropped off or mailed to:
The Eagle-Tribune Santa Fund
100 Turnpike St.
North Andover, MA 01845
Donations are accepted in cash, check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.
Phone: 978-686-8688
Merrimack Valley
January 22, 2008
Lawrence fire: How to help
- Merrimack Valley
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State officials asked to investigate Adams
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Democratic Party has asked state election officials to investigate whether state Rep. Paul Adams benefited from "a multi-step financial scheme" to mislead voters about how his 2010 campaign was financed.
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Love's Enduring Promise: By Peggy's side
Editor's Note: In the spirit of Valentine's Day, The Eagle-Tribune asked readers to tell us stories about their lasting relationships — how they worked through the challenges over the years and kept their love healthy and alive. The series begins today and continues through Tuesday, Feb. 14, highlighting compelling stories of Love's Enduring Promise.
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Despite new law, local towns say no to GIC
Joining the state's Group Insurance Commission is not the only option local communities are looking at in fighting the high cost of health care coverage for their employees.
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The deadline for cities and towns to join the state plan is March 1. - Mass. schools suspend thousands under 'zero-tolerance'
- Don't print that
- Pets of the week
- Community calendar
- Saturday, February 11, 2012
- Early morning, two-alarm fire on High Street, Haverhill drives family out of house
- Back on the home front
- Marine gets big welcome
- Gym damage forces shift of voting site
- Five candidates to run for Andover's top board
- Burglars hit fire damaged home
- Church celebrates renovations, anniversary
- Couple caught stealing $889 in groceries
- Man charged with hat theft
- Man arrested after chase
- Friday, February 10, 2012
- Spanish class exchange lets LHS, Phillips Academy students discover common interests
- Write your own success stories, students told
- State of city deadline missed again
- Retiring moderator's advice: 'Stay out of arguments'
- Man facing child porn charges said that he attended Merrimack
- Lantigua fails to file campaign finance reports
- Methuen, Lawrence Democrats to elect state convention delegates
- Councilor withdraws customer service crackdown
- Moran planning a run for 17th Essex Representative
- Two correction officers suspended for barroom brawl
- Merrimack Valley YMCA honors staff members
- Man accused of stealing gold rings from roommate
- Cash, liquor stolen from club
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State officials asked to investigate Adams
