Community donations boost ‘Stockbridge Fire Victims Fund’ to nearly $30K
by Tina Cole-Mullins
In the weeks following a large fire Aug. 11 at Lakewood Apartments in downtown Stockbridge, the generous community rallied to support the 15 families who lost their homes in the blaze.
Rob Beam, owner of Rob’s Pizza, a community asset close to 40 years, took to social media to kick off a fundraising campaign for the victims.
“We all know someone who lost most, if not all, their belongings in the fire,” he wrote. “I’d like to start a fund to help the residents who are this morning waking up to a whole different world.”
Beam has been friends with Lakewood residents for many years, prompting his desire to help. He started the fund with his own $1,000 donation, and with the Lakewood Apartments manager contacted an Eaton Federal Bank (now Eaton Community Bank) employee. Then Laura and Darren Hejnal helped set up and manage the funds and their distribution.
Money collected for the “Stockbridge Fire Victims Fund” was equally distributed by cashier’s checks, donated through Eaton Community Bank, to resident households displaced by the fire.
Donations could be made at Rob’s Pizza, Crossroads church, Gregory Pub and Eaton Community Bank. Money started coming in almost immediately and in less than 24 hours close to $10,000 had been collected.
Beam kept the community informed of the progress of the fund. He offered gracious thank-you mentions on his business page for gestures of help and donations, no matter large or small
“Thank you to Good Shepherd Mission, Elder Ridge Care Home, Tracey Hernly of Howard Hannah Real Estate, Youngs Turf farm and Ted Watters and Sons farms for a $1,000 donation,” Beam shared.
Unspecified donations and special thanks were given to Naomi Carson from Good Manna, My Body Shop, Church of Christ, the SAESA, Stockbridge Shell, Medina’s Take Out, the Stockbridge Legion and various anonymous donors.
Some community members organized special fundraising events for the fund.
Members of Wake Up Stockbridge, Stockbridge Township and Kona Ice of Brighton accepted donations at the Open Air Market with 100% of the proceeds and donations going toward the fund.
Stephanie Dunn, owner of Kona Ice Brighton, grew up in the Stockbridge and feels “Kona Ice is at its heart with a fundraising raising opportunity.”
“Usually the percentage given back is 20% to 25%,” Dunn said. “But there are some causes that hit close to home and close to our heart, like this. When we heard that these families lost everything, we felt compelled to give all of our sales back to help them.”
Geri Uihlein took to social media one evening and displayed a freshly baked peach pie, made by her husband Greg. She asked all their friends in Stockbridge to nominate a deserving person to receive the pie, and numerous nominations came in for Rob Beam.
“I was graciously awarded this delicious looking pie,” he wrote. “Let’s raise some more money for the ‘Stockbridge Fire Victims Fund’, let’s auction this pie! Bidding starts at $5.” With a bid of $60, Karen Jeffers won the pie with peach jam included.
Other local events included Stockbridge Bowl, DJ Phatboy, Eljiah Dunham and his mother Heidi Davis hosted a silent action with items provided by local businesses throughout the surrounding communities, adding an additional $1,900.
Pampered Chef consultant Hope Salyer hosted a virtual party with all cash donations donated to the growing fund and numerous new kitchen products for those residents who have been able to relocate and set up new households.
Displaced resident Jeanie Smith, the first to be placed in an available unit in Complex A of Lakewood Apartments, expressed her gratitude.
“Thank you everyone for all the generosity we can’t even begin to tell you how much everything helped all of us,” she said. “I never could imagine how our community came together to help so many people. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Without you all, we couldn’t have been able to pick up the pieces.”
Jean Bemis, another fire victim, had only lived in the Stockbridge community the past couple of years. Bemis relocated to nearby Pinckney for now, with hopes to return to the Lakewood Apartments after they are rebuilt.
“I want to thank everyone for helping during this difficult time,” she said. “We appreciate how the community came together to help us get back on our feet. It was greatly appreciated.”
As the fundraising drive neared the home stretch, Beam took to social media and his business page to announce one last auction deal of a winning bid to receive a large three-item pizza every week for one year, a $1,000 value. An anonymous business bid came in for the win at $1,150.
When all totals came together, nearly $30,000 worth of monetary donations had been gathered through these fundraising projects and events.
If you would like to help the displaced Lakewood Apartments residents, donations can be made directly to Stockbridge Community Outreach.
Fire victims’ belongings still remain untouched two months after August 11th fire. Photo Credit: Geri Uihlein
Stephanie Dunn – Kona Ice of Brighton preparing for ‘Stockbridge Fire Victims’ fundraising
event with Wake Up Stockbridge and Stockbridge Township. Photo Credit: Michelle Price
Pie made by Greg Uihlein, auctioned by Rob’s Pizza with a $60 winning bid. Photo Credit: Geri Uihlein
