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Castle Apartment Fire Survivors & Supporters

Information

This group is for the displaced residents of the Castle Apartments from the fire on August 4 2009 and all of their supporters.

Location: Albuquerque, NM
Members: 22
Latest Activity: Jan 13, 2010

Welcome

As a former resident of the Castle Apartments on 15th and Central, I have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support from friends, neighbors, coworkers, and strangers since a fire ravaged our building on August 4, 2009. I also know that there are many folks who are willing to help out the 30-odd displaced tenants, but they don't know who to contact about donations.

It is my hope that this group will help facilitate connecting potential donators DIRECTLY with the victims of the fire. While many of the residents still do not have internet access (or their access is extremely intermittent), I and other connected former tenants are able to contact directly most, if not all, of the other victims.

The tenants are meeting in person every few days to exchange information and help each other out as best we can. We have had a significant turnout, but not all of the residents came to our last meeting. If you are a displaced tenant of the Castle Apartments who does not know the date, time, and location of our next in-person meeting (or you know someone who fits this description), please backchannel me.

And a big thanks everyone for your concern. It will be a long, difficult process for all of us to put our lives back together, but with the help of those who are willing to support us as they can, we don't have to go through it alone.

Holly

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Comment by dolores on August 15, 2009 at 12:15pm: Here is an update. Donations can be dropped off tomorrow,Sunday 16th at noon at the lot with the POD storage unit next door to 909 Silver S.W.
bg has been meeting with tenants and has made a list of some of the items they need. Pretty much everything for starting a new household up.
Basic foods flour,salt,sugar,baking powder &soda,cooking oil.
Canned goods, pots, pans, silverware,dishes, coat hangers
Cleaning supplies,brooms,mops,trash cans and bags,dust pans,buckets, laundry soap, laundry baskets,toasters,blenders,other small kitchen appliances
Bath&Bed linens, common tools, hammers,screw drivers,pliers, nails
Men's casual clothes and Women's causal and professional clothes. Shoes for men and women.
So far there have not been any requests for children's clothes or toy's
Also maybe some paper, note books, stamps, pens,envelopes would be good
Donations should be clean and in good condition.
There will not be much storage space so really big furniture or electronics will be excepted next Saturday.
Anyone with some time and a pickup truck that can help with deliveries next saturday will be greatly appreciated.
If anyone has some of those 6-8' folding tables and/or portable shelves that could be loaned to us for a couple of weeks they are need to organize things on. Also boxes about file or beer box size that are easy to carry and coat hangers, always coat hangers!
You can PM me if you need any other info

Comment by bg on August 11, 2009 at 6:52pm: Please watch here for an announcement about a drop off location (and distribution center). There should be info before the tenants' meeting tomorrow night.

Comment by Lindsey Bowman on August 11, 2009 at 4:09pm: I have lots of ladies clothes for the taking if anyone needs. You are more then welcome to come take what ever fits. Please let me know if you ae interested.

Comment by bg on August 11, 2009 at 3:49pm: I confirmed with the Red Cross that they accept donations but all the money goes into a fund they use for any future disaster. This disaster was over last week for the RC. If you have money that you want to give to the specific victims of the Castle Fire, give it to the fund at Wells Fargo. It will go to the tenants for sure.

Comment by bg on August 11, 2009 at 6:37am: The Democratic Party has been very generous. However, their space is very limited. It is not going to be a distribution center.

If you can hold on to your donations of goods for another day or so, I hope there will be a space that can act as both a drop off spot and a distribution center.

Perhaps we can get a sense after the tenants' meeting tomorrow what is needed most or how we can be the most helpful to them.

It is so great that people want to help. This is a significant disaster in our community. If you can afford to donate cash, I know that is a very pressing need. There is the fund at Wells Fargo, and if people prefer, the Red Cross will accept donations. I am not sure how RC distributes the money, but the WF account will go directly to the tenants, I know for sure.

Comment by Dave Osborn on August 10, 2009 at 6:30pm: I saw that you came to the office last friday and was tempted to see how you were holding up but decided you needed space. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to help above what is already being done.

Comment by The Aragons on August 9, 2009 at 2:39pm: My family has many things that we could donate to your group dressers, clothing, many household items that we havent used, and would like to help. Please email me on where to take donations. God Bless you all!

Comment by bg on August 9, 2009 at 11:43am: Just imagine what things you need every day. Everything in the kitchen from table to plates to cookbooks, everything in the bathroom from tooth brush to towel, simple toolbox items, litterbox for cats, furniture, lamps, dictionary, calculator, clothes, linens, mattress, and MONEY.

Many (most?) of the people have not found other places to live. These people need everything.

There is a fund at Wells Fargo called the Dallas Timmons Fire Fund. Dallas (a tenant) says she does not need the money, but it was set up in her name. It will be distributed to tenants in the building. She is totally honorable and there will be total accountability. The Red Cross has been seeking donations if people are more comfortable with that option for money contributions.

Comment by Deb Davey on August 9, 2009 at 11:33am: A list of items needed posted here would be a huge help.

Comment by Deb Davey on August 9, 2009 at 11:32am: Freecycle.org can be a great help. Join and post "wanted" for items needed or peruse the items being offered. Free to join and free to post or receive.