Donations Wanted For Plumley Village Residents Displaced By Fire

WORCESTER, MA — Local residents who want to help the hundreds of people left homeless after a Thanksgiving fire in Worcester can start donating today.

The nonprofit that operates Plumley Village will begin accepting donations of items like snack foods, water and gift cards at its office along Laurel Street Monday.

A fire broke out in an electrical room at Plumley Village around 3:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving. No one was injured, but the fire destroyed the 120-unit building's electrical system, forcing residents to leave their homes.

It's unclear when repairs will be finished — and when residents will be able to return — but Community Builders found all the residents temporary homes, either with family or in local hotels. As of Friday, initial repairs had restored the building's elevators and heating systems, according to city officials.

"Community Builders is working closely with electrical contractors to make the necessary repairs to the electrical system. The timeframe for those repairs to be completed is still unknown, but the city of Worcester’s Department of Inspectional Services is working with building management and the contractors to expedite a temporary repair that would allow residents back into the building as soon as it is safe to do so," officials said.

Donations to Plumley Village residents can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays at the building's main office, 16 Laurel St.