St. Luke's staff is working alongside councilwoman Odette Ramos, the Hampden Community Council, the American Legion, and Hampden Highlights to provide prompt and essential needs to the victims of yesterday's tragic fire, which claimed two of our neighbor's lives. In the immediate aftermath, St. Luke's is already well prepared to provide our neighbors with free clothing from our over-stocked thrift store, The Lost & Found. At this time, we will only accept donations of MEN'S CLOTHING for this cause during thrift store hours 1-6pm on Thursday and Friday, and 11am-4pm on Saturday. We know the generosity of our neighbors and the desire to show solidarity and support to this community during difficult times is palpable.

 

Currently, the best way to demonstrate that generosity is through financial giving. You can make a contribution through the Hampden Community Council Venmo. We appreciate ANY amount you are able to give.

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Why are you not accepting more items?

We have learned a lot from the last two neighborhood fires, please trust us. The compulsion to give "stuff" is not as helpful as we like to think. Families affected first need to assess their needs. Meanwhile, collecting donations without specific needs ALWAYS ends with a mountain of stuff no one asked for, and no one needs. Someone ultimately has to deal with it all. We already have a lot of clothing on hand and ready to go to families thanks to the ongoing donations to our Thrift Shop. You've already done that work! In short, giving quickly and abundantly does not equal giving well.

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Families are currently sheltered by the Red Cross through hotel vouchers or by family and friends. Councilwoman Ramos is in contact with them, and as specific needs arise, we will seek those needs. As stated above, the most urgent and useful need is money, which will be evenly distributed amongst the victims. If you absolutely cannot give a few dollars, then hang tight for more instruction. Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.

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This is an amazing neighborhood, we are so glad to be part of it.

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