Update 1/8/23: a Facebook Group has been created to consolidate support resources for the families affected by the Hillcrest Park fire.
On January 5th, 2021, a fire broke out at Hillcrest Park Condominium in Peekskill, NY, leaving many residents displaced and in need of assistance. If you’d like to help those affected by this disaster, there are several ways you can do so:
Donate Money
Monetary donations can be used to purchase necessary items like clothes, food, and toiletries for those affected by the fire. You can donate to organizations like the Red Cross or local charities and fundraisers that are providing aid to those affected by the fire.
Here is a list of some places to donate money:
- Peekskill Rotary has set up a fundraiser to collect money to distribute to the Peekskill families displaced by the Hillcrest Fire.
- Salvation Army is collecting and distributing money to the families affected by the Hillcrest Fire. Use this donation form or call the Salvation Army at (914) 737-0280 to make a donation.
A few GoFundMe campaigns have been set up for individual victims of the Hillcrest Fire:
- Raj Dhillon lost everything in the fire and it’s been particularly hard for her since she had lost her job due to the pandemic last year. In the last 2 months, she was just getting back on her feet when this tragedy struck. (Current status as of 1/17: $500 raised of $20,000 goal)
- Jae and his family of three are looking for support after they lost their home in the fire. (Current status as of 1/17: $1,595 raised of $10,000 goal)
- Alice Anderson and her furbaby Violet are survivors of the fire on 1-5-23 in Peekskill NY that destroyed 16 homes and everything in them. I will have to start all over. Any help is greatly appreciated. (Current status as of 1/17: $2,075 raised of $5,000 goal)
- Manuel Gonzalez suffered from loss of property, personal belongings [medicine, clothing, etc], and peace of mind. (Current status as of 1/17: $3,330 raised of $10,000 goal)
- Emanuel and Liz Gonzalez are two senior Hillcrest residents who lost everything in the Hillcrest Fire and desperately need help to rebuild their lives. (Current status as of 1/17: $4,050 raised of $15,000 goal)
- Adrienne, and her son Jayden have lost all of their belongings, including priceless memories captured in photos of her children. (Current status as of 1/17: $4,195 raised of $15,000 goal)
- Jessica Fitzpatrick a Hillcrest resident who lost everything including her two cats in the fire. (Current status as of 1/17: $4,354 raised of $5,000 goal)
- Nereida Nevarez, her husband Carlos Alarcon and their two dogs Lucy and Toby. Luckily everyone made it out safe, but they were left with nothing but the clothes on their backs. (Current status as of 1/17: $4,350 raised of $20,000 goal)
- Ashley Evangelist and her mother Toni, Hillcrest residents who lost everything in the fire. (Current status as of 1/17: $4,534 raised of $25,000 goal)
- Valerie Pawlows a Hillcrest resident who lost everything including her pet in the fire. (Current status as of 1/17: $4,965 raised of $3,000 goal)
- Linda Gadaleta a Hillcrest resident who lost everything — her clothes, food, diabetic medication and much, much more in the fire. (Current status as of 1/17: $12,408 raised of $10,000 goal)
- Jenna Reilly, a familiar face to Peekskill Coffee House regulars, who lost her home and all her possessions in the Hillcrest Fire. (Current status as of 1/17: $23,391 raised of $25,000 goal)
Donate Goods
If you have items like clothes, blankets, pet supplies, or non-perishable food that you can spare, consider donating them to organizations that are helping those affected by the fire. You can also consider reaching out to local churches or community centers to see if they are accepting donations for those affected by the fire.
Here are a few places collecting goods for those affected by the Hillcrest Fire:
- Sunset House on Water Street is accepting donations of can goods, clothing, and toiletries. You can drop them off a the restaurant or call them at (914) 734-4192.
- The BeanRunner Cafe is collecting gift cards to distribute to the families affected by the Hillcrest Fire. You can drop them off at the restaurant.
- Judie’s Equipment Service at 126 Broadway in Verplanck is collecting clothes, food, and small household items for the victims of the Hillcrest Fire between 10-3. You can call them at (914) 271-9718
- The Peekskill Elks Lodge is accepting donations of clothing, toiletries, pet supplies, etc on Tuesday 1/10 from 10am to 12pm 3pm to 7 pm Friday 1/13 6 to 8pm, and will be open at 9am Saturday and Sunday for the families to come and take whatever they need.
- The Peekskill Coffee House has currently paused accepting donations due to be overwhelmed with donations, but they will soon be setting up a Facebook page to coordinate the donation and distribution efforts to the victims of the Hillcrest Fire. They are currently accepting cash donations at the shop.
Publicize These Resources for Affected Families
Here are some resources available to families who were displaced by the Hillcrest Fire:
- Tzu Chi USA, a Taiwanese international humanitarian and NGO, is distributing cash cards to families displaced by the fire. This is being organized by a local Tzu Chi volunteer Ting Fan who actually lives in the Hillcrest Park community (her home was unaffected by the fire). The distribution will take place on Thursday, January 19, 2023 @ 10am-12pm at Peekskill Salvation Army Office, 117 Nelson Ave, Peekskill, NY 10566.
- CHHOP has new clothing, food, blankets, and hygiene products for those who need them.
- Let It Shine in Verplanck has women’s clothes, toddler clothes, and housewares.
- Birthright of Peekskill is available to assist any families affected by this fire who have children under 5.
Volunteer Your Time
If you have some free time, consider volunteering your time to help those affected by the fire. This could involve helping to sort and distribute donations, providing transportation to those who need it, or simply offering a listening ear to those who are struggling.
Share Information on Social Media
Help spread the word about the fire and the ways in which people can help those affected by it. Share information from reliable sources and encourage others to get involved in helping those in need. Share this post!
By working together, we can help those affected by the Hillcrest Park Condominium fire get the support and assistance they need during this difficult time.
Please leave any other resources you know of in the comments below.