Neighbors organize fundraiser to help Grover Beach families left homeless by fire
Neighbors of residents who were left homeless after a fire destroyed at least five Grover Beach apartments on Tuesday organized a fundraiser to help those affected by the blaze.
The fire sparked at apartments on the 900 block of 14th Street at around 9:30 a.m., quickly engulfing one apartment and spreading to neighboring units, witnesses told The Tribune at the scene.
Jackie and Corey Clendenen, whose neighboring apartments were not affected by the fire, said they heard screaming and grabbed fire extinguishers when they saw the flames.
The two helped catch two people who leaped from the windows of their burning apartment.
According to a GoFundMe fundraiser organized by Jackie Clendenen, eight families were displaced by the fire, “leaving them with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.”
“In a matter of minutes, everything was lost,” she wrote. “Their homes, belongings and the sense of normalcy we all rely on.”
She said she is waiting for a list of specific needs from the displaced families but in the meantime is collecting funds to provide immediate relief. All funds will go to gift cards for the affected families so they can purchase essentials like food, clothing and hygiene items.
“Your donation, no matter the amount, will make a tangible difference in helping these families start over with support and hope,” she wrote. “Together, we can lift these families back on their feet. #GroverBeachStrong.”
To donate to the fundraiser, visit gofundme.com/f/help-grover-beach-families-rebuild.
