UPDATED – HOW TO HELP: Donation drives for people displaced by Lam-Bow Apartments fire

(OCTOBER 4TH UPDATE: You can now donate $ online – scroll down for updates)

pumper1
(WSB photo, Tuesday afternoon)

12:44 PM: We finally have additional information on how to help the dozens of people who lost their homes and belongings in Tuesday’s 3-alarm fire at the Lam Bow Apartments.

Many are continuing to be sheltered, with the help of the American Red Cross, at the Delridge Community Center. However, we learned during a visit there on Wednesday, they cannot directly accept donations, so they ask that you please do NOT go there.

Good news is, there are bins right across the street at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), thanks to the teamwork of Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (which owns and operates Youngstown) and the West Seattle Helpline, which has offered some assistance directly to the fire victims, including bus tickets – the type of emergency help that the Helpline is known for.

When we talked with DCC and Red Cross workers helping with the shelter, they stressed that adult items were most needed, but there are some needs for kids and babies too. Here is the list we were given as of late yesterday:

Sweats, shirts 16 XL woman
sweats shirts XXL/ size 40 man
baby clothing 3 months, diapers size 1

(the above is for a family of 3)

shoes blouse pants, women’s size 8, medium, medium
shoes blouse pants for 15 year old girl, size 8
blanket that is NOT wool for someone who is allergic

boys clothing sizes 6+, 8+, 10

underwear for boys, size 4

girls’ underwear sizes 7, 10

socks/underwear for men, sizes M, L, XL
socks, underwear for women, sizes M, L, XL

diapers sizes 1 and 5

blankets and pillows

LONG dresses and skirts for females sizes S, M, L, XL
shirts for women (long sleeves) S, M, L, XL

hygiene products for males and females

pants men’s sizes 32/32 and 34/32

men’s shirts, coats M, L, XL

ADDED: size 28 women’s pants

Note that the 5-week-old baby is a boy

Please donate new, or if gently used, clean items, and again, long sleeved tops and long pants for women.

Youngstown asks that you drop off donations between 10 am and 6:30 pm weekdays.

donationbins
(One of the donation bins at Youngstown – find them inside the west and north entrances)

Also – as mentioned in comments on our Wednesday followup, there is a collection drive at 24-Hour Fitness in Westwood Village, and Sanislo Elementary is collecting some items from its school community during its Multicultural Potluck event tonight.

And you can support the ongoing American Red Cross sheltering service – which they provide to many victims in all types of disasters large and small.

Meantime, SFD has not yet announced the results of its investigation into how the fire started.

ADDED 1:15 PM: Just as we were publishing this update, SFD announced:

The investigation showed the fire started on the exterior of the building. Fire Investigators were unable to determine a specific cause. The damage was estimated at 3.3 million dollars.

ADDED THURSDAY NIGHT: Thanks to the person who texted that West Seattle High School is collecting items for at least one family. They shared this image of a message from a school-community communication list with the requests and how to drop them off.

We expect to have an updated list sometime Friday with more information on how to help, so please check back.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Youngstown Arts Center’s David Bestock says in a comment that what they REALLY need is volunteer help to sort through what’s been dropped off. 4408 Delridge Way SW, until 6 pm today.

FRIDAY EVENING: And a new update – NO MORE DONATIONS, please, as explained here. We’ll continue to follow this so that when there’s word of other needs, we can update.

OCTOBER 4TH: Two ways to donate money now:
-Online (see the PayPal link here)
-Via check (here’s how)

14 Replies to "UPDATED - HOW TO HELP: Donation drives for people displaced by Lam-Bow Apartments fire"

  • Kim September 29, 2016 (1:09 pm)

    I am a volunteer participant at World Vision.  We would like to help.  Please let us know what each family or everyone needs.  Thank you! 

    • David Bestock September 30, 2016 (1:08 pm)

      Lots of clothing and household item donations have come into Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, flooding and overflowing our bins.  We would LOVE any volunteer support to come sort these items into things that can be used by displaced residents vs. what should be passed along to other donation sites.  Our building is open M-F 10a-6p.  Thanks!

      • WSB September 30, 2016 (1:30 pm)

        Thanks for the update – we’ll post that separately to catch more eyes. – Tracy

  • Amber Knox September 29, 2016 (1:49 pm)

    Does the SFD think that there is any connection to the mysterious brush fire on Delridge a few weeks ago? It was less than a block away.

  • Emily Katcher September 29, 2016 (2:51 pm)

    It looks like long skirts and other modest clothes are really needed, as well as boys pants and underwear for everyone! If you talk to people at delridge community center, they may know about other needs too.

    • WSB September 29, 2016 (4:52 pm)

      Thanks – that’s who we spoke with Wed. In person to get list of needs. Just visited Youngstown for photo of bins and talked to DCC staffer for updated info, adding above.

  • TicaMarie September 29, 2016 (5:41 pm)

    Is there any organization collecting cash donations so they can purchase items as needed? 

    • WSB September 29, 2016 (6:03 pm)

      TM – The Housing Authority was looking for a “fiscal agent” to handle that independently as of yesterday. We have not heard from them today.

  • Holly McNeill September 29, 2016 (8:33 pm)

    My family lost our home (and everything in it) to a house fire many years ago.  I have always pledged to help anyone in this situation as long as I live.  The support of any kind, is very appreciated, and cash is desperately needed so that people can purchase what they personally need.  I look forward to hearing where we can send money.  Thank you WSB for keeping us updated!  What a tragedy this is!   HM

  • Simseth September 29, 2016 (9:05 pm)

    I would like to donate money as well  any info yet?

    • WSB September 29, 2016 (10:17 pm)

      I’ll be checking back with SHA in the morning.

      Karisa – there’s been no request for that yet; I don’t believe SHA (I’ll ask this too) has replacement housing for the families yet.

  • Rachel Van Ness September 29, 2016 (9:53 pm)

    On the night of the fire I went to the Red Cross website and donated to the home fires fund. This felt like the appropriate thing to do as we had little specific information.

  • Karisa September 29, 2016 (10:14 pm)

    Can furniture or mattresses be donated as well?

  • HarloweRayne Thunderword - Cohen September 30, 2016 (12:01 am)

    I’ve just donated to the local chapter of the Red Cross.  I will see if i can also donate the west seattle help line. 

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