Damage to City Mission worse than originally thought; continued donations vital
Carolyn and Gary Crosby drove from their home in Chicora, Beaver County, to deliver nonperishable and frozen food to the City Mission Wednesday after hearing about the fire at the mission.
Sisters Gianna, 9, and Isabel Beichner, 12, and their cousin, Keegan Kosek, 9, load bags of groceries they bought with their grandmother, Judy Beichner of South Strabane Township, into the collection box in front of the City Mission Wednesday. Judy, in the background, read about the fire at the mission in the Observer-Reporter and took her grandchildren shopping for food donations, including tuna, apple juice, fruit cups, granola bars and crackers.
As she stood Wednesday amidst the chaos that consumed Washington City Mission following Tuesday’s fire, Maria Stockman seemed confident that with time, and the community’s help, everything would return to normal.
“With God, all things are possible,” the mission’s events and marketing manager said.
Stockman said a sign bearing the same words was stationed in the kitchen. It managed to escape the flames untouched.
“I truly believe that God will and has blessed us,” she said.
The fire started early Tuesday in the mission’s kitchen. The night houseman, Keith Groves, reported smelling something burning and checked equipment to make sure it was turned off.
When he returned after making his rounds, Grove found the kitchen on fire. He called 911 and was able to get 58 homeless men living in the main building at 84 W. Wheeling St., as well as eight men in an adjacent building, out before firefighters arrived.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined. A state fire marshal is investigating.
Previously, Stockman said mission officials thought the men could return to their dormitories within the month, but the building now was deemed uninhabitable for six to eight months. Stockman said the insurance company is working to figure out the extent of the damage.
“In terms of our normal operations, the situation is far more grim than we thought. We need to figure out where to house our male residents. Currently, we are housing them on cots in our Samaritan Care Center, and that is only a very short-term solution,” Dean Gartland, president and chief executive officer of the mission, said in a news release.
Stockman said the mission’s current focus is gathering food to feed the residents. City Mission serves more than 300 meals a day to homeless and needy community members.
Since news of the fire broke, Stockman said monetary and food donations have been pouring in. Stockman was interrupted during an interview Wednesday as donors handed her money. All the while, people were pulling up in front of the mission and unloading food into large cardboard boxes.
“The community has been amazing,” Stockman said. “We are overwhelmed.”
Local businesses and churches have taken care of meals for this week, Stockman said. Wednesday morning’s breakfast was courtesy of Chik-fil-A.
ANSYS and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce have also been generous. ANSYS donated $10,000 to assist with the mission’s immediate needs.
“The Washington City Mission is a vital part of our community because of the critical services it provides to our homeless and less fortunate. We wanted to assist them to recover as much as we could from their recent fire damage by using our business networks to connect our members to the tremendous, immediate needs of the mission,” chamber President Jeff Kotula said, in an email. “ANSYS’ lead gift of $10,000 served as way to immediately address the mission’s needs as well as encourage our business community to give as well. We are very fortunate that our membership is dedicated to our county and really comes together when there is a need in our community.”
Shelby Knapp, the mission’s corporate relations manager, said JP Enterprises is also doing its part to help. It provided the mission with a check shortly after the fire occurred, offered to assist with housing residents and is currently holding a food drive, Knapp said.
Cricket Wireless announced Wednesday it will hold a disaster relief drive Friday for the mission at the local retail store, 80 N. Main St., Washington, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Clothing, bottled water and monetary donations are being sought.
“It’s just a humbling experience,” Stockman said of the community’s support. “This is how it should always be, living our lives together.”
Donations can be sent to the City Mission at 382 W. Chestnut St., Washington, or made through the mission’s website at www.citymission.org.