Donations pour in for residents displaced by fire at 650 Parliament St.
Following an appeal by Mayor John Tory on Tuesday, the city says donations have begun pouring in for the displaced residents of 650 Parliament street.
Around 1,500 people were forced to evacuate the building after a six-alarm fire broke out on Aug. 21.
Mayor Tory asked private citizens and corporations in Toronto to contribute housing support, financial help and donate back-to-school necessities for over 300 children who need clothes, shoes and other essentials for the first week of school.
As of Wednesday afternoon the children’s needs were almost fully taken care of thanks to corporate donations of gift cards and vouchers as well as backpacks, socks, t-shirts and other clothing.
In addition the Red Cross received $32,638 in financial donations as well as 112 offers of accommodations and hundreds of items of school supplies.
The distribution of items to families with school-age children will begin on Saturday at the Rose Avenue Public School gymnasium on 675 Ontario Street.
In a release, both Mayor Tory and Coun. Lucy Troisi expressed their thanks to the people of Toronto and various corporations
Tory added that going forward, the most important needs are accommodation and financial help.
How you can help
- If you’d like to donate money, financial contributions can be made online at redcross.ca or by calling 1-800-418-1111.
- To coordinate offers of accommodations, goods and services, Toronto social service agency WoodGreen has made their H.O.M.E portal available to allow donors to post available housing, goods and services.Visit www.mycanadianhome.org to post an offer.
- If you would like to donate clothing, the drive being organized in partnership with Community Matters and Community Corner is ongoing. However gift $20-$25 gift cards are preferred due to space restrictions. Gift cards can be dropped off at Community Corner, 200 Wellesley St. E. The clothing drive ends 8 p.m., Friday.