Community partnership works to aid fire victims

By Chris Sykes, Staff Writer
Councilwoman Donna K. Williams and members of the T. Colson Woody Foundation have been collecting items to aid the victims of the February fire along Oakwood Avenue that destroyed or damaged eight residences.
Williams and Dennis Motley, owner of J&A’s Bar, and other members of the Woody Foundation last week distributed the items to the victims, including members of four families who were in attendance. They came with stories of the losses and lingering hardships they have endured since the blaze. They left with tangible evidence of the love and civic-minded spirit of their fellow Orange residents.
“We did a clothes drive for the fire victims of the tragedy. We were using the bar as a drop-off point so I could keep my eye on what we had collected and because our location is so accessible,” Motley said. “We felt it was time to come together and make sure they can get back up on their feet.”
Fire Department and city officials said the Feb. 20 fire displaced 38 residents. Fire officials said the blaze started in a free-standing residence, then spread south to a series of one-and two-family homes.
None of the residents were injured during the fire, said fire officials; however, Williams said there are lingering effects that are having an impact on the victims’ quality of life.
“We got involved because this is what the TCW Foundation does: support the citizens of Orange,” said Williams. “We separated items we collected, then put together packages for the different fire victims as a way to help ease their struggles and sufferings as much as possible. Whatever goods we had left, we took over to the firehouse, where it can be accessed 24 hours a day.”
The foundation is named after the deceased owner of Woody’s Funeral Home. Williams said the organization exists to serve community needs.
“People want to help, but they might not always know how or where to do it. By putting the word we were organizing this event, it gave them a way to do what they wanted to do,” said Williams. “Everybody can‘t do the same thing, but they can do something.
This drive gave them an opportunity to do whatever they could for some people in need.”

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