ARSON UPDATE: Fire Victims Still Need Assistance, Blaze Remains Under Investigation

Last Wednesday (July 13) morning, in the Birchwood Townhomes complex because of a fire that officials ruled was arson.

After being evacuated from their homes, the families took up temporary shelter until July 15 at —while receiving assistance from the Red Cross and the staff and members of the church. Valley Outreach also responded immediately by giving emergency clothing to each of the fire victims.

Since the fire, half of the 16 displaced families have been able to return to their homes, but have lost nearly all of their belongings, said Kate Krisik, executive director of Valley Outreach. The other eight families will not be able to return home until Dec. 1.

The arson remains under investigation.

“Even the most empathetic among us can scare imagine the utter hopelessness and despair of losing everything suddenly and without warning,” Krisik said. “These sixteen local families—57 individuals—are now trying to recover and rebuild their lives and Valley Outreach is working diligently to provide them with food, clothing, household essentials, personal care and household products, and temporary shelter.”

Valley Outreach is providing four of these eight families with temporary shelter at local motels in Stillwater, Krisik said. The Stillwater-based nonprofit is also working with the Birchwood Management agency staff to try and find more stable housing for all eight families until they are able to return to their homes.

Valley Outreach has received an outpouring of “generous assistance” from the community during the past week, said Cynthia Frederick, co-director of the Valley Outreach Emergency Fund. There has been a lot of clothing donations and some contributions of household essentials and money, but more help is “desperately needed."

"Our most urgent need is for financial contributions to the designated fund for the Birchwood Townhomes victims we are administering through our Emergency Fund," Frederick said.

Lending a Hand

Financial contributions are tax-deductible and can be made by cash or check payable to "Valley Outreach" and should include “Birchwood” on the memo line of check donations., Krisik said. Designated monetary donations also can be made by credit card through the GiveMN.org link on the Valley Outreach website.

The Valley Outreach Food Shelf also needs donations of food, personal-care and household products.

Clothing and Essentials Still Needed

The Dawn's Closet clothing and household essentials shelf at Valley Outreach is seeking donations of new underwear and socks for men, women and children of all ages and sizes, Krisik said. “We ask that the items are gently-used, clean and functioning,” she said.

The following items are being sought:

* Sets of queen and twin sheets;

* Blankets, quilts, comforters;

* Pillows;

* Sets of dishes, flatware, and glassware;

* Pots and pans;

* Kitchen utensils;

* Sets of bath towels;

* Kitchen linens; and

* Small household appliances.