Community eager to support those impacted by fire
In the aftermath of a devastating fire in Creemore last Thursday, the community has been eager to help those displaced.
An early morning fire at 157 Mill Street rendered the building uninhabitable and displaced the tenants of six apartments and one restaurant.
In the past week the community has been asking how to get help to those impacted.
Everyone escaped the fire and found temporary shelter. Angie Cormier is one of the residents ousted by the fire. She said she was getting ready to go back to bed just after 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 1 when her neighbour Krista Mercier came through her door to get her out, saving her life.
Cormier is hearing impaired and had taken out her hearing aids. She couldn’t hear the fire alarm, or her neighbour knocking, but luckily she had left her door unlocked.
“I don’t want to think about how close I was to death,” she said.
She said Mercier urged her to go down the street to her aunt and uncle’s house, where she has been taking refuge ever since.
Cormier said she is taking it day to day. She has been missing her art supplies, because colouring is how she relaxes and eases her anxiety. She has had some supplies donated – along with some clothing and other necessities from the team at St. Luke’s.
She is thrilled that some of her personal items were recovered from her apartment undamaged, including he baby book and family photographs. She is very sad that the ashes of her parents and pets have not yet been recovered.
Cormier said she is grateful to be staying with her closest family, Chris and Koni Jones, but is so sad to have lost her home of two years.
She is on a limited income and has no insurance so replacing items, including her personal documents, one hearing aid and the contents of her purse, is a challenge.
Cormier’s family has history in Creemore and she is very grateful for all the support she has received from the community. She hopes to find another place to live in the area.
“I want to put down roots here but it’s hard. People don’t want to rent to people on ODSP,” she said.
She is so grateful to her family, St. Luke’s and Krista, who proceeded to alerted the other residents to the fire.
“I appreciate everyone for the help and support,” said Cormier. “It means the world to me.”
A Go Fund Me campaign was launched by Creemore resident Scott LeBlanc and has already surpassed its goal of $10,000.
LeBlanc said after the fire he was reading Facebook posts about people wanting to donate and, with some other community members, a decision was made to launch the Go Fund Me page. “I saw people were wanting to help and were looking for ways to collect funds,” said LeBlanc. He said this is something he could do and he was willing to be the one to do it.
The campaign is ongoing and but an initial payout is in the process of being dispensed to the occupants of all units. Lorna May and her team at St. Luke’s hockey game will be in support of those affected by the fire. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales and funds collected in jars at the door and in the booster club bar area collected on behalf of those displaced.
To donate:
St Luke’s
Make cheques payable to St. Lukes Anglican Church re: discretionary funds/fire. Receipts will be given for donations of $20 or more (include address). Anyone in need of assistance is encouraged to call May at 705-352-2759. Donations of cash, cheques and gift cards can also be dropped off at the church on Friday mornings, or at The Creemore Echo.
Go Fund Me – Creemore Fire Fundraiser
https://www.gofundme.com/f/creemore-fire-fundraiser
Go Fund Me – La Cucina Fire Relief Fund
