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- Rita, Rosy, & Javier surveying the damage
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- Diana Ramos with salvaged glasses that were to be used at her Quinceañera on May 2nd
It has been a flurry of activity since Monday’s fire. The Ramos family is living in #3 where Chris Hill lives. He is out of town this week visiting family in Colorado. Next week, Rita, Diana, & Jonathan will move to another location to be determined. The Hernandez-Saldaña family is currently packed into her sister’s home and will be moving into the YLM dormitory until the end of May when our next servant event group is scheduled. A self-storage unit donated by Faith Lutheran Church, Troy, MI, will come in handy for the temporary storage of their belongings. (once the smoke smell is removed)
We are thankful for the several individuals and churches who have expressed their desire to help the families recover as well as help YLM with the rebuilding of building #4. Arturo, a YLM volunteer has been scraping up the charred debri and wheeling it over to the dumpster. An electric water heater has been donated for Viki’s residence.
Does anybody know the best way to get the smell of smoke off of items that can’t go into a washing machine? Fabreeze? (That may be a helpful donation for the Hernandez-Saldaña family.)
Tuesday we had a plumber and electrician come to isolate the burnt building. About 5 buildings share the same gas meter and electric meter, including the kitchen/dining hall, and they were all shut off on Monday night. The Hot Meal Program served cold meals on Tuesday and Wednesday.
I am still gathering specific information that will be helpful to those who are wanting to help. The Ramos family lost all their belongings, so clothing, food, school supplies, fun items…, The insurance adjuster came on Wednesday to do his thing and we’ll see what they will provide. I’m trying to discern the best plan for the restoration/rebuilding and exactly what extra assistance will be needed.
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–Vicar Stephen Heimer
