Emmaus firefighters are planning ways to help two families displaced by a Sunday night blaze that destroyed a duplex on Main Street in the borough.
The families include an older couple and a father and his 11-year-old daughter. The girl was injured trying to save her dog, a Great Dane, which died in the blaze.
The Emmaus Fire Department will hold a donation drive Saturday, Jan. 5
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the fire station, 100 North Sixth Street.
The firefighters have been collecting clothes for both families and
have been getting a good response to their request for help, according
to Lt. Bob Schwoyer. The fire department is now working with the Red
Cross to ensure that donations received beyond what the Emmaus
families need will be distributed to other needy families in the
Lehigh Valley, he says.
In addition to toys and small household items, the firefighters are
now asking people who want to help to consider donating gift cards for
local restaurants or grocery stores. Plus, he says, both families
could use donations of pet supplies or gift cards for pet stores.
The older couple has a dog, which they were able to save from the
fire. While the young girl’s dog died in the fire, the fire department
plans to buy her a new dog of her choice when she is ready, Schwoyer
says.
Here are the details on the clothing sizes needed, according to the Emmaus Fire Department:
- The father: Jeans, 36 x 30; Shoe, 10; Extra-Large in everything else.
- The girl: Pants, kids size 10; shirts, kids size 6; Shoe, kids size
9. She's very athletic and loves soccer. - The older couple: Lady's pants, 14-16; Shirt, Large; Shoe, 8-wide; Men's pants, 40 x 30; Shirt, Extra-Large; Shoe, 10 1/2-wide.
The firefighters want members of the community to know that they can feel free to drop off items at the fire station at other times if they cannot make the Saturday drop-off.
