TURNERS FALLS — Locals are rallying around the two families affected by Sunday’s apartment fire at 55 Park St. through three fundraisers.
The fire, which the Department of Fire Services reports was started by two children misusing a lighter and candle, left the three-story complex uninhabitable. A raffle and two online fundraising pages and are being held to raise money for the families who have been left without permanent shelter and who lost nearly all of their possessions.
“Many of the organizations that help are limited right now,” said April Jones, a coworker of second-floor tenant Kiania Berndt, acknowledging that resources for organizations like the Red Cross have been stretched thin lately.
Shameeka Minckler, daughter of first-floor tenant Lisa Rios and sister of first-floor tenant Marcel Ortiz, said her family has nearly nothing left.
“The only thing that has somewhat been salvageable has been some of my mom’s clothing,” Minckler said, adding that Ortiz has had to wear their father’s clothing.
Local disc jockey Robert “Bobby C” Campbell, who said he has known Rios’ family for a long time, will host a raffle Thursday between 4 and 6 p.m. at the Montague Elks Lodge parking lot to benefit the family. People will be able to buy one ticket for $5 or five tickets for $20 to enter a drawing for a $75 gift card to Terrazza in Greenfield or a $75 gift card to the Whately Inn.
Tickets can also be purchased by contacting Campbell via Facebook Messenger until Monday, Aug. 16, at 5 p.m. Drawings for the winners will be livestreamed on his Facebook page at 7 p.m. on Monday.
Additionally, Jones and Minckler have each started online fundraisers to benefit the families that they’re close to. Jones’ fundraiser for Berndt and her partner, Kyle, has a $10,000 goal. Minckler’s fundraiser for Rios and Ortiz has a $15,000 goal.
Jones said she believes Berndt and her family are staying with relatives.
“She’s someone who gives,” Jones said of her coworker. “She never walks through the door without something to give to everybody.”
For the time being, Minckler said Rios is staying with her, while Ortiz is staying with his brother. She said Ortiz had no insurance and Rios had minimal insurance at the time of the fire.
“She pays it forward whenever she can, and I think it’s time for her to receive something in return,” Minckler said of her mother.
Jones’ fundraiser can be accessed at bit.ly/2VMjtey.
Minckler’s fundraiser can be accessed at bit.ly/3CG8bZR.
Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-772-0261, ext. 261 or jmendoza@recorder.com.