Crime & Safety

Red Cross Aiding Victims of Brighton Avenue Fire

Local fundraisers, drives also being set up for displaced tenants.

 

In the wake of what could be the city's largest fire since the 1987 pier fire, volunteers and organizations are stepping up to help people who lost everything in the Brighton Avenue blaze on Monday.

American Red Cross South Jersey Region Director of Community Relations Laura Steinmetz said 11 families were displaced from their homes and that all have found accommodations.

Find out what's happening in Long Branch-Eatontownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Seven families have been placed in hotels and the other four have "found their own accommodations," Steinmetz explained. The families were initially housed in the .

The Red Cross provided emergency assistance for food, clothing and replacement of necessary prescription medications for the displaced residents. It also provided beverages and snacks to the first responders at the scene and the fire victims on Monday.

Find out what's happening in Long Branch-Eatontownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A release from the Red Cross states that donations for Disaster Relief Services can be made by contacting the Jersey Coast Chapter 732.493.9100 or www.jerseycoast-redcross.org.

The Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce has outlined a way for people to help the families that were affected.

A release from the chamber states that people who wish to donate gift cards, checks and cash can drop them off at Central Jersey Bank, 627 Second Ave., marked "Attention Carol Feldman."

Household items for the victims can be dropped off at the West End Fire House on Second Avenue between 2 and 5 p.m.

Local businesses are also starting provide assistance for the displaced families.

The , located at 100 Brighton Ave., is hosting a fundraiser for bartender Frank Bradach and his girlfriend, who lost everything in the fire.

The fundraiser will be held at the bar from 6 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, and 50 percent of the day's sales will go Bradach and his girlfriend.

Mike's West End Deli will be collecting donations for Community Closet to help those that lost their belongings and their homes in the fire yesterday.

They will be accepting donations between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The owners are asking people to make sure they put any clothing being donated in some sort of bag before they are dropped off.


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