District 91 schools are collecting clothing, gift cards and monetary donations to help a family displaced following a fire at a three-story apartment building on Jan. 10. The fire occurred about 1:30 p.m. at 1141 Hannah Ave. in the rear three units of the building, which were “heavily damaged,” according to Fire Chief Bob McDermott.
“We will be conducting an ongoing collection for as long as people are willing to donate,” Tiffany Brunson, principal of Field-Stevenson Intermediate Elementary School, said via email. A family enrolled at Field-Stevenson “lost everything” from the fire and is currently being housed by the Red Cross at a hotel in the area.
Field-Stevenson social workers are collecting clothing for a fourth-grade girl, who is a size 8 or 9; a seventh-grade girl, who is a size medium for shirts and size 28 for pants; father, who is a 42-44 pants size and 4X or 5X shirt; and mother, who is a size 38 in pants and extra-large or 1X for shirts. All donations can be dropped off at the front office of Field-Stevenson during school hours. The South Parent Teach Organization is also helping raise awareness and connecting the family with local businesses.
“We have a wonderfully generous community, and the family is very grateful for the support,” Brunson wrote in an email.
